第10部分(第1/7 页)

on　for　an　hour；　writing　and　arithmetic　succeeded；　and　music　lessons　were　given　by　Miss　Temple　to　some　of　the　elder　girls。　The　duration　of　each　lesson　was　measured　by　the　clock；　which　at　last　struck　twelve。　The　superintendent　rose—

“I　have　a　word　to　address　to　the　pupils；”　said　she。

The　tumult　of　cessation　from　lessons　was　already　breaking　forth；　but　it　sank　at　her　voice。　She　went　on—

“You　had　this　morning　a　breakfast　which　you　could　not　eat；　you　must　be　hungry：—I　have　ordered　that　a　lunch　of　bread　and　cheese　shall　be　served　to　all。”

The　teachers　looked　at　her　with　a　sort　of　surprise。

“It　is　to　be　done　on　my　responsibility；”　she　added；　in　an　explanatory　tone　to　them；　and　immediately　afterwards　left　the　room。

The　bread　and　cheese　was　presently　brought　in　and　distributed；　to　the　high　delight　and　refreshment　of　the　whole　school。　The　order　was　now　given　“To　the　garden！”　Each　put　on　a　coarse　straw　bon；　with　strings　of　coloured　calico；　and　a　cloak　of　grey　frieze。　I　was　similarly　equipped；　and；　following　the　stream；　I　made　my　way　into　the　open　air。

The　garden　was　a　wide　inclosure；　surrounded　with　walls　so　high　as　to　exclude　every　glimpse　of　prospect；　a　covered　verandah　ran　down　one　side；　and　broad　walks　bordered　a　middle　space　divided　into　scores　of　little　beds：　these　beds　were　assigned　as　gardens　for　the　pupils　to　cultivate；　and　each　bed　had　an　owner。　When　full　of　flowers　they　would　doubtless　look　pretty；　but　now；　at　the　latter　end　of　January；　all　was　wintry　blight　and　brown　decay。　I　shuddered　as　I　stood　and　looked　round　me：　it　was　an　inclement　day　for　outdoor　exercise；　not　positively　rainy；　but　darkened　by　a　drizzling　yellow　fog；　all　under　foot　was　still　soaking　wet　with　the　floods　of　yesterday。　The　stronger　among　the　girls