第10部分(第2/7 页)

　ran　about　and　engaged　in　active　games；　but　sundry　pale　and　thin　ones　herded　together　for　shelter　and　warmth　in　the　verandah；　and　amongst　these；　as　the　dense　mist　perated　to　their　shivering　frames；　I　heard　frequently　the　sound　of　a　hollow　cough。

As　yet　I　had　spoken　to　no　one；　nor　did　anybody　seem　to　take　notice　of　me；　I　stood　lonely　enough：　but　to　that　feeling　of　isolation　I　was　accustomed；　it　did　not　oppress　me　much。　I　leant　against　a　pillar　of　the　verandah；　drew　my　grey　mantle　close　about　me；　and；　trying　to　forget　the　cold　which　nipped　me　without；　and　the　unsatisfied　hunger　which　gnawed　me　within；　delivered　myself　up　to　the　employment　of　watching　and　thinking。　My　reflections　were　too　undefined　and　fragmentary　to　merit　record：　I　hardly　yet　knew　where　I　was；　Gateshead　and　my　past　life　seemed　floated　away　to　an　immeasurable　distance；　the　present　was　vague　and　strange；　and　of　the　future　I　could　form　no　conjecture。　I　looked　round　the　convent…like　garden；　and　then　up　at　the　house—a　large　building；　half　of　which　seemed　grey　and　old；　the　other　half　quite　new。　The　new　part；　containing　the　schoolroom　and　dormitory；　was　lit　by　mullioned　and　latticed　windows；　which　gave　it　a　church…like　aspect；　a　stone　tablet　over　the　door　bore　this　inscription：—

“Lowood　Institution。—This　portion　was　rebuilt　A。D。—；　by　Naomi　Brocklehurst；　of　Brocklehurst　Hall；　in　this　county。”　“Let　your　light　so　shine　before　men；　that　they　may　see　your　good　works；　and　glorify　your　Father　which　is　in　heaven。”—　St。　Matt。　v。　16。

I　read　these　words　over　and　over　again：　I　felt　that　an　explanation　belonged　to　them；　and　was　unable　fully　to　perate　their　import。　I　was　still　pondering　the　signification　of　“Institution；”　and　endeavouring　to　make　out　a　connection　between　the　first　words　and　the　verse　of　S