第9部分(第2/7 页)

irls　arose　from　different　tables；　and　going　round；　gathered　the　books　and　removed　them。　Miss　Miller　again　gave　the　word　of　mand—

“Monitors；　fetch　the　supper…trays！”

The　tall　girls　went　out　and　returned　presently；　each　bearing　a　tray；　with　portions　of　something；　I　knew　not　what；　arranged　thereon；　and　a　pitcher　of　water　and　mug　in　the　middle　of　each　tray。　The　portions　were　handed　round；　those　who　liked　took　a　draught　of　the　water；　the　mug　being　mon　to　all。　When　it　came　to　my　turn；　I　drank；　for　I　was　thirsty；　but　did　not　touch　the　food；　excitement　and　fatigue　rendering　me　incapable　of　eating：　I　now　saw；　however；　that　it　was　a　thin　oaten　cake　shared　into　fragments。

The　meal　over；　prayers　were　read　by　Miss　Miller；　and　the　classes　filed　off；　two　and　two；　upstairs。　Overpowered　by　this　time　with　weariness；　I　scarcely　noticed　what　sort　of　a　place　the　bedroom　was；　except　that；　like　the　schoolroom；　I　saw　it　was　very　long。　To…night　I　was　to　be　Miss　Miller’s　bed…fellow；　she　helped　me　to　undress：　when　laid　down　I　glanced　at　the　long　rows　of　beds；　each　of　which　was　quickly　filled　with　two　occupants；　in　ten　minutes　the　single　light　was　extinguished；　and　amidst　silence　and　plete　darkness　I　fell　asleep。

The　night　passed　rapidly。　I　was　too　tired　even　to　dream；　I　only　once　awoke　to　hear　the　wind　rave　in　furious　gusts；　and　the　rain　fall　in　torrents；　and　to　be　sensible　that　Miss　Miller　had　taken　her　place　by　my　side。　When　I　again　unclosed　my　eyes；　a　loud　bell　was　ringing；　the　girls　were　up　and　dressing；　day　had　not　yet　begun　to　dawn；　and　a　rushlight　or　two　burned　in　the　room。　I　too　rose　reluctantly；　it　was　bitter　cold；　and　I　dressed　as　well　as　I　could　for　shivering；　and　washed　when　there　was　a　basin　at　liberty；　which　did　not　occur　soon；　as　there　was　but　one　basin