第7部分(第2/7 页)

t　in　a　child；”　said　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　“it　is　akin　to　falsehood；　and　all　liars　will　have　their　portion　in　the　lake　burning　with　fire　and　brimstone；　she　shall；　however；　be　watched；　Mrs。　Reed。　I　will　speak　to　Miss　Temple　and　the　teachers。”

“I　should　wish　her　to　be　brought　up　in　a　manner　suiting　her　prospects；”　continued　my　benefactress；　“to　be　made　useful；　to　be　kept　humble：　as　for　the　vacations；　she　will；　with　your　permission；　spend　them　always　at　Lowood。”

“Your　decisions　are　perfectly　judicious；　madam；”　returned　Mr。　Brocklehurst。　“Humility　is　a　Christian　grace；　and　one　peculiarly　appropriate　to　the　pupils　of　Lowood；　I；　therefore；　direct　that　especial　care　shall　be　bestowed　on　its　cultivation　amongst　them。　I　have　studied　how　best　to　mortify　in　them　the　worldly　sentiment　of　pride；　and；　only　the　other　day；　I　had　a　pleasing　proof　of　my　success。　My　second　daughter；　Augusta；　went　with　her　mama　to　visit　the　school；　and　on　her　return　she　exclaimed：　‘Oh；　dear　papa；　how　quiet　and　plain　all　the　girls　at　Lowood　look；　with　their　hair　bed　behind　their　ears；　and　their　long　pinafores；　and　those　little　holland　pockets　outside　their　frocks—they　are　almost　like　poor　people’s　children！　and；’　said　she；　‘they　looked　at　my　dress　and　mama’s；　as　if　they　had　never　seen　a　silk　gown　before。’”

“This　is　the　state　of　things　I　quite　approve；”　returned　Mrs。　Reed；　“had　I　sought　all　England　over；　I　could　scarcely　have　found　a　system　more　exactly　fitting　a　child　like　Jane　Eyre。　Consistency；　my　dear　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　I　advocate　consistency　in　all　things。”

“Consistency；　madam；　is　the　first　of　Christian　duties；　and　it　has　been　observed　in　every　arrangement　connected　with　the　establishment　of　Lowood：　plain　fare；　simple　attire；　unsophisticated　acmodations；　hardy　and　active　habits；　su