第73部分(第2/7 页)

　room　with　whitewashed　walls　and　a　sanded　floor；　containing　four　painted　chairs　and　a　table；　a　clock；　a　cupboard；　with　two　or　three　plates　and　dishes；　and　a　set　of　tea…things　in　delf。　Above；　a　chamber　of　the　same　dimensions　as　the　kitchen；　with　a　deal　bedstead　and　chest　of　drawers；　small；　yet　too　large　to　be　filled　with　my　scanty　wardrobe：　though　the　kindness　of　my　gentle　and　generous　friends　has　increased　that；　by　a　modest　stock　of　such　things　as　are　necessary。

It　is　evening。　I　have　dismissed；　with　the　fee　of　an　orange；　the　little　orphan　who　serves　me　as　a　handmaid。　I　am　sitting　alone　on　the　hearth。　This　morning；　the　village　school　opened。　I　had　twenty　scholars。　But　three　of　the　number　can　read：　none　write　or　cipher。　Several　knit；　and　a　few　sew　a　little。　They　speak　with　the　broadest　accent　of　the　district。　At　present；　they　and　I　have　a　difficulty　in　understanding　each　other’s　language。　Some　of　them　are　unmannered；　rough；　intractable；　as　well　as　ignorant；　but　others　are　docile；　have　a　wish　to　learn；　and　evince　a　disposition　that　pleases　me。　I　must　not　forget　that　these　coarsely…clad　little　peasants　are　of　flesh　and　blood　as　good　as　the　scions　of　gentlest　genealogy；　and　that　the　germs　of　native　excellence；　refinement；　intelligence；　kind　feeling；　are　as　likely　to　exist　in　their　hearts　as　in　those　of　the　best…born。　My　duty　will　be　to　develop　these　germs：　surely　I　shall　find　some　happiness　in　discharging　that　office。　Much　enjoyment　I　do　not　expect　in　the　life　opening　before　me：　yet　it　will；　doubtless；　if　I　regulate　my　mind；　and　exert　my　powers　as　I　ought；　yield　me　enough　to　live　on　from　day　to　day。

Was　I　very　gleeful；　settled；　content；　during　the　hours　I　passed　in　yonder　bare；　humble　schoolroom　this　morning　and　afternoon？　Not　to　deceive　myself；　I　must　reply—No