第13部分(第2/7 页)

　feelings。　Miss　Temple　had　looked　down　when　he　first　began　to　speak　to　her；　but　she　now　gazed　straight　before　her；　and　her　face；　naturally　pale　as　marble；　appeared　to　be　assuming　also　the　coldness　and　fixity　of　that　material；　especially　her　mouth；　closed　as　if　it　would　have　required　a　sculptor’s　chisel　to　open　it；　and　her　brow　settled　gradually　into　petrified　severity。

Meantime；　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　standing　on　the　hearth　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　majestically　surveyed　the　whole　school。　Suddenly　his　eye　gave　a　blink；　as　if　it　had　met　something　that　either　dazzled　or　shocked　its　pupil；　turning；　he　said　in　more　rapid　accents　than　he　had　hitherto　used—

“Miss　Temple；　Miss　Temple；　what—what　is　that　girl　with　curled　hair？　Red　hair；　ma’am；　curled—curled　all　over？”　And　extending　his　cane　he　pointed　to　the　awful　object；　his　hand　shaking　as　he　did　so。

“It　is　Julia　Severn；”　replied　Miss　Temple；　very　quietly。

“Julia　Severn；　ma’am！　And　why　has　she；　or　any　other；　curled　hair？　Why；　in　defiance　of　every　precept　and　principle　of　this　house；　does　she　conform　to　the　world　so　openly—here　in　an　evangelical；　charitable　establishment—as　to　wear　her　hair　one　mass　of　curls？”

“Julia’s　hair　curls　naturally；”　returned　Miss　Temple；　still　more　quietly。

“Naturally！　Yes；　but　we　are　not　to　conform　to　nature；　I　wish　these　girls　to　be　the　children　of　Grace：　and　why　that　abundance？　I　have　again　and　again　intimated　that　I　desire　the　hair　to　be　arranged　closely；　modestly；　plainly。　Miss　Temple；　that　girl’s　hair　must　be　cut　off　entirely；　I　will　send　a　barber　to…morrow：　and　I　see　others　who　have　far　too　much　of　the　excrescence—that　tall　girl；　tell　her　to　turn　round。　Tell　all　the　first　form　to　rise　up　and　direct　their　faces　to　the　wall。”

Miss　Temple　passed　her