第9部分(第5/7 页)

arter　of　an　hour　passed　before　lessons　again　began；　during　which　the　schoolroom　was　in　a　glorious　tumult；　for　that　space　of　time　it　seemed　to　be　permitted　to　talk　loud　and　more　freely；　and　they　used　their　privilege。　The　whole　conversation　ran　on　the　breakfast；　which　one　and　all　abused　roundly。　Poor　things！　it　was　the　sole　consolation　they　had。　Miss　Miller　was　now　the　only　teacher　in　the　room：　a　group　of　great　girls　standing　about　her　spoke　with　serious　and　sullen　gestures。　I　heard　the　name　of　Mr。　Brocklehurst　pronounced　by　some　lips；　at　which　Miss　Miller　shook　her　head　disapprovingly；　but　she　made　no　great　effort　to　cheek　the　general　wrath；　doubtless　she　shared　in　it。

A　clock　in　the　schoolroom　struck　nine；　Miss　Miller　left　her　circle；　and　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　cried—

“Silence！　To　your　seats！”

Discipline　prevailed：　in　five　minutes　the　confused　throng　was　resolved　into　order；　and　parative　silence　quelled　the　Babel　clamour　of　tongues。　The　upper　teachers　now　punctually　resumed　their　posts：　but　still；　all　seemed　to　wait。　Ranged　on　benches　down　the　sides　of　the　room；　the　eighty　girls　sat　motionless　and　erect；　a　quaint　assemblage　they　appeared；　all　with　plain　locks　bed　from　their　faces；　not　a　curl　visible；　in　brown　dresses；　made　high　and　surrounded　by　a　narrow　tucker　about　the　throat；　with　little　pockets　of　holland　（shaped　something　like　a　Highlander’s　purse）　tied　in　front　of　their　frocks；　and　destined　to　serve　the　purpose　of　a　work…　bag：　all；　too；　wearing　woollen　stockings　and　country…made　shoes；　fastened　with　brass　buckles。　Above　twenty　of　those　clad　in　this　costume　were　full…grown　girls；　or　rather　young　women；　it　suited　them　ill；　and　gave　an　air　of　oddity　even　to　the　prettiest。

I　was　still　looking　at　them；　and　also　at　intervals　exam