第17部分(第3/7 页)

；　passion　with　uprightness。　The　school；　thus　improved；　became　in　time　a　truly　useful　and　noble　institution。　I　remained　an　inmate　of　its　walls；　after　its　regeneration；　for　eight　years：　six　as　pupil；　and　two　as　teacher；　and　in　both　capacities　I　bear　my　testimony　to　its　value　and　importance。

During　these　eight　years　my　life　was　uniform：　but　not　unhappy；　because　it　was　not　inactive。　I　had　the　means　of　an　excellent　education　placed　within　my　reach；　a　fondness　for　some　of　my　studies；　and　a　desire　to　excel　in　all；　together　with　a　great　delight　in　pleasing　my　teachers；　especially　such　as　I　loved；　urged　me　on：　I　availed　myself　fully　of　the　advantages　offered　me。　In　time　I　rose　to　be　the　first　girl　of　the　first　class；　then　I　was　invested　with　the　office　of　teacher；　which　I　discharged　with　zeal　for　two　years：　but　at　the　end　of　that　time　I　altered。

Miss　Temple；　through　all　changes；　had　thus　far　continued　superintendent　of　the　seminary：　to　her　instruction　I　owed　the　best　part　of　my　acquirements；　her　friendship　and　society　had　been　my　continual　solace；　she　had　stood　me　in　the　stead　of　mother；　governess；　and；　latterly；　panion。　At　this　period　she　married；　removed　with　her　husband　（a　clergyman；　an　excellent　man；　almost　worthy　of　such　a　wife）　to　a　distant　county；　and　consequently　was　lost　to　me。

From　the　day　she　left　I　was　no　longer　the　same：　with　her　was　gone　every　settled　feeling；　every　association　that　had　made　Lowood　in　some　degree　a　home　to　me。　I　had　imbibed　from　her　something　of　her　nature　and　much　of　her　habits：　more　harmonious　thoughts：　what　seemed　better　regulated　feelings　had　bee　the　inmates　of　my　mind。　I　had　given　in　allegiance　to　duty　and　order；　I　was　quiet；　I　believed　I　was　content：　to　the　eyes　of　others；　usually　even　to　my　own；　I　appeared　a　disciplined