第15部分(第3/7 页)

f…a…dozen　of　untidily　folded　articles　pinned　to　her　shoulder。

“My　things　were　indeed　in　shameful　disorder；”　murmured　Helen　to　me；　in　a　low　voice：　“I　intended　to　have　arranged　them；　but　I　forgot。”

Next　morning；　Miss　Scatcherd　wrote　in　conspicuous　characters　on　a　piece　of　pasteboard　the　word　“Slattern；”　and　bound　it　like　a　phylactery　round　Helen’s　large；　mild；　intelligent；　and　benign…　looking　forehead。　She　wore　it　till　evening；　patient；　unresentful；　regarding　it　as　a　deserved　punishment。　The　moment　Miss　Scatcherd　withdrew　after　afternoon　school；　I　ran　to　Helen；　tore　it　off；　and　thrust　it　into　the　fire：　the　fury　of　which　she　was　incapable　had　been　burning　in　my　soul　all　day；　and　tears；　hot　and　large；　had　continually　been　scalding　my　cheek；　for　the　spectacle　of　her　sad　resignation　gave　me　an　intolerable　pain　at　the　heart。

About　a　week　subsequently　to　the　incidents　above　narrated；　Miss　Temple；　who　had　written　to　Mr。　Lloyd；　received　his　answer：　it　appeared　that　what　he　said　went　to　corroborate　my　account。　Miss　Temple；　having　assembled　the　whole　school；　announced　that　inquiry　had　been　made　into　the　charges　alleged　against　Jane　Eyre；　and　that　she　was　most　happy　to　be　able　to　pronounce　her　pletely　cleared　from　every　imputation。　The　teachers　then　shook　hands　with　me　and　kissed　me；　and　a　murmur　of　pleasure　ran　through　the　ranks　of　my　panions。

Thus　relieved　of　a　grievous　load；　I　from　that　hour　set　to　work　afresh；　resolved　to　pioneer　my　way　through　every　difficulty：　I　toiled　hard；　and　my　success　was　proportionate　to　my　efforts；　my　memory；　not　naturally　tenacious；　improved　with　practice；　exercise　sharpened　my　wits；　in　a　few　weeks　I　was　promoted　to　a　higher　class；　in　less　than　two　months　I　was　allowed　to　mence　French　and　drawing。　I　learned　the　first　two　ten