第13部分(第6/7 页)

　warn　you；　that　this　girl；　who　might　be　one　of　God’s　own　lambs；　is　a　little　castaway：　not　a　member　of　the　true　flock；　but　evidently　an　interloper　and　an　alien。　You　must　be　on　your　guard　against　her；　you　must　shun　her　example；　if　necessary；　avoid　her　pany；　exclude　her　from　your　sports；　and　shut　her　out　from　your　converse。　Teachers；　you　must　watch　her：　keep　your　eyes　on　her　movements；　weigh　well　her　words；　scrutinise　her　actions；　punish　her　body　to　save　her　soul：　if；　indeed；　such　salvation　be　possible；　for　（my　tongue　falters　while　I　tell　it）　this　girl；　this　child；　the　native　of　a　Christian　land；　worse　than　many　a　little　heathen　who　says　its　prayers　to　Brahma　and　kneels　before　Juggernaut—this　girl　is—a　liar！”

Now　came　a　pause　of　ten　minutes；　during　which　I；　by　this　time　in　perfect　possession　of　my　wits；　observed　all　the　female　Brocklehursts　produce　their　pocket…handkerchiefs　and　apply　them　to　their　optics；　while　the　elderly　lady　swayed　herself　to　and　fro；　and　the　two　younger　ones　whispered；　“How　shocking！”　Mr。　Brocklehurst　resumed。

“This　I　learned　from　her　benefactress；　from　the　pious　and　charitable　lady　who　adopted　her　in　her　orphan　state；　reared　her　as　her　own　daughter；　and　whose　kindness；　whose　generosity　the　unhappy　girl　repaid　by　an　ingratitude　so　bad；　so　dreadful；　that　at　last　her　excellent　patroness　was　obliged　to　separate　her　from　her　own　young　ones；　fearful　lest　her　vicious　example　should　contaminate　their　purity：　she　has　sent　her　here　to　be　healed；　even　as　the　Jews　of　old　sent　their　diseased　to　the　troubled　pool　of　Bethesda；　and；　teachers；　superintendent；　I　beg　of　you　not　to　allow　the　waters　to　stagnate　round　her。”

With　this　sublime　conclusion；　Mr。　Brocklehurst　adjusted　the　top　button　of　his　surtout；　muttered　something　to　his　family；　who　rose