five o'clock had hardly struck on the morning of the 19th of january, when bessie brought a candle into my closet and found me already up and nearly dressed. i had risen half-an-hour before her entrance, and had washed my face, and put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon just setting, whose rays streamed through the narrow window near my crib. i was to leave gateshead that day by a coach which passed the 1 gates at six a.m. bessie was the only person yet risen; she had lit a fire in the nursery, where she now proceeded to make my breakfast. few children can eat when excited with the thoughts of a journey; nor could i. bessie, having pressed me in vain to take a few spoonfuls of the boiled milk and bread she had prepared for me, wrapped up some biscuits in a paper and put them into my bag; then she helped me on with my pelisse and 2, and wrapping herself in a shawl, she and i left the nursery. as we passed mrs. reed's bedroom, she said, "will you go in and bid missis good-bye?"
"no, bessie: she came to my crib last night when you were gone down to supper, and said i need not disturb her in the morning, or my cousins either; and she told me to remember that she had always been my best friend, and to speak of her and be grateful to her accordingly."
"what did you say, miss?"
"nothing: i covered my face with the bedclothes, and turned from her to the wall."
"that was wrong, miss jane."
"it was quite right, bessie. your missis has not been my friend: she has been my 3."
"o miss jane! don't say so!"
"good-bye to gateshead!" cried i, as we passed through the hall and went out at the front door.
the moon was set, and it was very dark; bessie carried a lantern, whose light glanced on wet steps and 4 road 6 by a recent 7. raw and chill was the winter morning: my teeth 8 as i hastened down the drive. there was a light in the porter's lodge: when we reached it, we found the porter's wife just 9 her fire: my trunk, which had been carried down the evening before, stood corded at the door. it wanted but a few minutes of six, and shortly after that hour had struck, the distant roll of wheels announced the coming coach; i went to the door and watched its lamps approach rapidly through the gloom.
"is she going by herself?" asked the porter's wife.
"yes."
"and how far is it?"
"fifty miles."
"what a long way! i wonder mrs. reed is not afraid to trust her so far alone."
the coach drew up; there it was at the gates with its four horses and its top 10 with passengers: the guard and coachman loudly urged haste; my trunk was 11 up; i was taken from bessie's neck, to which i clung with kisses.
"be sure and take good care of her," cried she to the guard, as he lifted me into the inside.
"ay, ay!" was the answer: the door was slapped to, a voice exclaimed "all right," and on we drove. thus was i 12 from bessie and gateshead; thus whirled away to unknown, and, as i then deemed, remote and mysterious regions.
i remember but little of the journey; i only know that the day seemed to me of a preternatural length, and that we appeared to travel over hundreds of miles of road. we passed through several towns, and in one, a very large one, the coach stopped; the horses were taken out, and the passengers alighted to dine. i was carried into an inn, where the guard wanted me to have some dinner; but, as i had no appetite, he left me in an immense room with a fireplace at each end, a chandelier pendent from the ceiling, and a little red gallery high up against the wall filled with musical instruments. here i walked about for a long time, feeling very strange, and mortally 13 of some one coming in and kidnapping me; for i believed in 14, their exploits having frequently figured in bessie's fireside chronicles. at last the guard returned; once more i was stowed away in the coach, my protector mounted his own seat, sounded his hollow horn, and away we 15 over the "16 street" of l-.
the afternoon came on wet and somewhat 17: as it 18 into dusk, i began to feel that we were getting very far indeed from gateshead: we ceased to pass through towns; the country changed; great grey hills heaved up round the horizon: as 19 deepened, we 20 a valley, dark with wood, and long after night had overclouded the 21, i heard a wild wind rushing amongst trees.
22 by the sound, i at last dropped asleep; i had not long 23 when the sudden cessation of motion awoke me; the coach- door was open, and a person like a servant was 24 at it: i saw her face and dress by the light of the lamps.
"is there a little girl called jane eyre here?" she asked. i answered "yes," and was then lifted out; my trunk was handed down, and the coach instantly drove away.
i was stiff with long sitting, and bewildered with the noise and motion of the coach: 25 my 26, i looked about me. rain, wind, and darkness filled the air; nevertheless, i dimly discerned a wall before me and a door open in it; through this door i passed with my new guide: she shut and locked it behind her. there was now visible a house or houses--for the building spread far--with many windows, and lights burning in some; we went up a broad 27 path, splashing wet, and were admitted at a door; then the servant led me through a passage into a room with a fire, where she left me alone.
i stood and warmed my 28 fingers over the blaze, then i looked round; there was no candle, but the uncertain light from the 29 showed, by 30, papered walls, carpet, curtains, shining mahogany furniture: it was a parlour, not so 31 or splendid as the drawing-room at gateshead, but comfortable enough. i was puzzling to make out the subject of a picture on the wall, when the door opened, and an individual carrying a light entered; another followed close behind.
the first was a tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large forehead; her figure was partly 32 in a shawl, her 33 was grave, her bearing 34.
"the child is very young to be sent alone," said she, putting her candle down on the table. she considered me 35 for a minute or two, then further added -
"she had better be put to bed soon; she looks tired: are you tired?" she asked, placing her hand on my shoulder.
"a little, ma'am."
"and hungry too, no doubt: let her have some supper before she goes to bed, miss 36. is this the first time you have left your parents to come to school, my little girl?"
i explained to her that i had no parents. she inquired how long they had been dead: then how old i was, what was my name, whether i could read, write, and sew a little: then she touched my cheek gently with her 37, and saying, "she hoped i should be a good child," dismissed me along with miss miller.
the lady i had left might be about twenty-nine; the one who went with me appeared some years younger: the first impressed me by her voice, look, and air. miss miller was more ordinary; ruddy in 38, though of a 39 countenance; hurried in gait and action, like one who had always a multiplicity of tasks on hand: she looked, indeed, what i afterwards found she really was, an under-teacher. led by her, i passed from 40 to compartment, from passage to passage, of a large and irregular building; till, emerging from the total and somewhat 41 silence 42 that portion of the house we had traversed, we came upon the hum of many voices, and presently entered a wide, long room, with great deal tables, two at each end, on each of which burnt a pair of candles, and seated all round on benches, a congregation of girls of every age, from nine or ten to twenty. seen by the dim light of the dips, their number to me appeared 43, though not in reality exceeding eighty; they were uniformly dressed in brown stuff frocks of 44 fashion, and long holland pinafores. it was the hour of study; they were engaged in 45 over their to- morrow's task, and the hum i had heard was the combined result of their whispered repetitions.
miss miller signed to me to sit on a bench near the door, then walking up to the top of the long room she cried out -
"monitors, collect the lesson-books and put them away! four tall girls arose from different tables, and going round, gathered the books and removed them. miss miller again gave the word of command -
"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 46 of water and mug in the middle of each tray. the portions were handed round; those who liked took a 47 of the water, the mug being common to all. when it came to my turn, i drank, for i was thirsty, but did not touch the food, excitement and 48 49 me 50 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 complete darkness i fell asleep.
the night passed rapidly. i was too tired even to dream; i only once awoke to hear the wind 5 in furious 51, and the rain fall in 52, 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 53; 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 to six girls, on the stands down the middle of the room. again the bell rang: all formed in file, two and two, and in that order descended the stairs and entered the cold and dimly lit schoolroom: here prayers were read by miss miller; afterwards she called out -
"form classes!"
a great 54 succeeded for some minutes, during which miss miller repeatedly exclaimed, "silence!" and "order!" when it 55, i saw them all 56 up in four semicircles, before four chairs, placed at the four tables; all held books in their hands, and a great book, like a bible, lay on each table, before the vacant seat. a pause of some seconds succeeded, filled up by the low, vague hum of numbers; miss miller walked from class to class, hushing this indefinite sound.
a distant bell 57: immediately three ladies entered the room, each walked to a table and took her seat. miss miller assumed the fourth vacant chair, which was that nearest the door, and around which the smallest of the children were assembled: to this inferior class i was called, and placed at the bottom of it.
business now began, the day's collect was repeated, then certain texts of 58 were said, and to these succeeded a 59 reading of chapters in the bible, which lasted an hour. by the time that exercise was terminated, day had 60 dawned. the 61 bell now sounded for the fourth time: the classes were marshalled and marched into another room to breakfast: how glad i was to 62 a prospect of getting something to eat! i was now nearly sick from inanition, having taken so little the day before.
the refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent 63 an odour far from 64. i saw a universal 65 of discontent when the 66 of the repast met the 67 of those 68 to swallow it; from the van of the procession, the tall girls of the first class, rose the whispered words -
"disgusting! the porridge is burnt again!"
"silence!" ejaculated a voice; not that of miss miller, but one of the upper teachers, a little and dark personage, smartly dressed, but of somewhat 69 aspect, who installed herself at the top of one table, while a more 70 lady presided at the other. i looked in vain for her i had first seen the night before; she was not visible: miss miller occupied the foot of the table where i sat, and a strange, foreign-looking, elderly lady, the french teacher, as i afterwards found, took the corresponding seat at the other board. a long grace was said and a 71 sung; then a servant brought in some tea for the teachers, and the meal began.
72, and now very faint, i 73 a spoonful or two of my portion without thinking of its taste; but the first edge of hunger blunted, i perceived i had got in hand a nauseous mess; burnt porridge is almost as bad as rotten potatoes; famine itself soon sickens over it. the spoons were moved slowly: i saw each girl taste her food and try to swallow it; but in most cases the effort was soon 74. breakfast was over, and none had breakfasted. thanks being returned for what we had not got, and a second hymn chanted, the refectory was 75 for the schoolroom. i was one of the last to go out, and in passing the tables, i saw one teacher take a basin of the porridge and taste it; she looked at the others; all their 76 expressed displeasure, and one of them, the 77 one, whispered -
"78 stuff! how 79!"
a quarter of an hour passed before lessons again began, during which the schoolroom was in a glorious tumult; for that space of time it seemed to be permitted to talk loud and more freely, and they used their privilege. the whole conversation ran on the breakfast, which one and all abused roundly. poor things! it was the sole 80 they had. miss miller was now the only teacher in the room: a group of great girls standing about her 81 with serious and 82 gestures. i heard the name of mr. brocklehurst pronounced by some lips; at which miss miller shook her head 83; but she made no great effort to cheek the general 84; doubtless she shared in it.
a clock in the schoolroom struck nine; miss miller left her circle, and standing in the middle of the room, cried -
"silence! to your seats!"
discipline prevailed: in five minutes the confused 85 was resolved into order, and comparative silence 86 the babel clamour of tongues. the upper teachers now punctually resumed their posts: but still, all seemed to wait. ranged on benches down the sides of the room, the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage they appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces, not a curl visible; in brown dresses, made high and surrounded by a narrow tucker about the throat, with little pockets of holland (shaped something like a highlander's purse) tied in front of their frocks, and destined to serve the purpose of a work- bag: all, too, wearing woollen stockings and country-made shoes, fastened with 87 88. above twenty of those clad in this costume were full-grown girls, or rather young women; it suited them ill, and gave an air of oddity even to the prettiest.
i was still looking at them, and also at intervals examining the teachers--none of whom 89 pleased me; for the stout one was a little coarse, the dark one not a little fierce, the foreigner harsh and 90, and miss miller, poor thing! looked purple, weather- beaten, and over-worked--when, as my eye wandered from face to face, the whole school rose 91, as if moved by a common spring.
what was the matter? i had heard no order given: i was puzzled. ere i had gathered my wits, the classes were again seated: but as all eyes were now turned to one point, mine followed the general direction, and encountered the personage who had received me last night. she stood at the bottom of the long room, on the hearth; for there was a fire at each end; she surveyed the two rows of girls silently and gravely. miss miller approaching, seemed to ask her a question, and having received her answer, went back to her place, and said aloud -
"monitor of the first class, fetch the globes!"
while the direction was being executed, the lady consulted moved slowly up the room. i suppose i have a considerable organ of 92, for i retain yet the sense of admiring 93 with which my eyes traced her steps. seen now, in broad daylight, she looked tall, fair, and shapely; brown eyes with a benignant light in their irids, and a fine pencilling of long 94 round, relieved the whiteness of her large front; on each of her temples her hair, of a very dark brown, was clustered in round curls, according to the fashion of those times, when neither smooth bands nor long ringlets were in 95; her dress, also in the mode of the day, was of purple cloth, relieved by a sort of spanish trimming of black 96; a gold watch (watches were not so common then as now) shone at her girdle. let the reader add, to complete the picture, refined features; a complexion, if pale, clear; and a stately air and carriage, and he will have, at least, as clearly as words can give it, a correct idea of the 97 of miss temple--maria temple, as i afterwards saw the name written in a prayer-book intrusted to me to carry to church.
the 98 of lowood (for such was this lady) having taken her seat before a pair of globes placed on one of the tables, summoned the first class round her, and commenced giving a lesson on geography; the lower classes were called by the teachers: repetitions in history, grammar, &c., went on for an hour; writing and arithmetic succeeded, and music lessons were given by miss temple to some of the elder girls. the duration of each lesson was measured by the clock, which at last struck twelve. the superintendent rose -
"i have a word to address to the pupils," said she.
the tumult of cessation from lessons was already breaking forth, but it sank at her voice. she went on -
"you had this morning a breakfast which you could not eat; you must be hungry:--i have ordered that a lunch of bread and cheese shall be served to all."
the teachers looked at her with a sort of surprise.
"it is to be done on my responsibility," she added, in an explanatory tone to them, and immediately afterwards left the room.
the bread and cheese was presently brought in and distributed, to the high delight and 99 of the whole school. the order was now given "to the garden!" each put on a coarse straw bonnet, with 100 of coloured calico, and a cloak of grey 101. i was similarly equipped, and, following the stream, i made my way into the open air.
the garden was a wide inclosure, surrounded with walls so high as to exclude every glimpse of prospect; a covered verandah ran down one side, and broad walks bordered a middle space divided into scores of little beds: these beds were assigned as gardens for the pupils to cultivate, and each bed had an owner. when full of flowers they would doubtless look pretty; but now, at the latter end of january, all was wintry 102 and brown decay. i 103 as i stood and looked round me: it was an 104 day for outdoor exercise; not 105 rainy, but darkened by a 106 yellow fog; all under foot was still soaking wet with the floods of yesterday. the stronger among the girls ran about and engaged in active games, but 107 pale and thin ones 108 together for shelter and warmth in the verandah; and amongst these, as the 109 mist 111 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 112 i was accustomed; it did not oppress me much. i leant against a pillar of the verandah, drew my grey 113 close about me, and, trying to forget the cold which nipped me without, and the unsatisfied hunger which 114 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 115. 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 116 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 110 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 scripture, when the sound of a cough close behind me made me turn my head. i saw a girl sitting on a stone bench near; she was 117 over a book, on the 118 of which she seemed intent: from where i stood i could see the title--it was "rasselas;" a name that struck me as strange, and consequently attractive. in turning a leaf she happened to look up, and i said to her directly -
"is your book interesting?" i had already formed the intention of asking her to lend it to me some day.
"i like it," she answered, after a pause of a second or two, during which she examined me.
"what is it about?" i continued. i hardly know where i found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step was contrary to my nature and habits: but i think her occupation touched a chord of sympathy somewhere; for i too liked reading, though of a 119 and childish kind; i could not digest or comprehend the serious or substantial.
"you may look at it," replied the girl, offering me the book.
i did so; a brief examination convinced me that the contents were less taking than the title: "rasselas" looked dull to my 120 taste; i saw nothing about fairies, nothing about genii; no bright variety seemed spread over the closely-printed pages. i returned it to her; she received it quietly, and without saying anything she was about to relapse into her former studious mood: again i ventured to disturb her -
"can you tell me what the writing on that stone over the door means? what is lowood institution?"
"this house where you are come to live."
"and why do they call it institution? is it in any way different from other schools?"
"it is partly a charity-school: you and i, and all the rest of us, are charity-children. i suppose you are an 121: are not either your father or your mother dead?"
"both died before i can remember."
"well, all the girls here have lost either one or both parents, and this is called an institution for educating 122."
"do we pay no money? do they keep us for nothing?"
"we pay, or our friends pay, fifteen pounds a year for each."
"then why do they call us charity-children?"
"because fifteen pounds is not enough for board and teaching, and the deficiency is supplied by 123."
"who 124?"
"different benevolent-minded ladies and gentlemen in this neighbourhood and in london."
"who was naomi brocklehurst?"
"the lady who built the new part of this house as that tablet records, and whose son overlooks and directs everything here."
"why?"
"because he is 125 and manager of the establishment."
"then this house does not belong to that tall lady who wears a watch, and who said we were to have some bread and cheese?"
"to miss temple? oh, no! i wish it did: she has to answer to mr. brocklehurst for all she does. mr. brocklehurst buys all our food and all our clothes."
"does he live here?"
"no--two miles off, at a large hall."
"is he a good man?"
"he is a clergyman, and is said to do a great deal of good."
"did you say that tall lady was called miss temple?"
"yes."
"and what are the other teachers called?"
"the one with red cheeks is called miss smith; she attends to the work, and cuts out--for we make our own clothes, our frocks, and pelisses, and everything; the little one with black hair is miss scatcherd; she teaches history and grammar, and hears the second class repetitions; and the one who wears a shawl, and has a pocket- handkerchief tied to her side with a yellow ribband, is madame pierrot: she comes from lisle, in france, and teaches french."
"do you like the teachers?"
"well enough."
"do you like the little black one, and the madame -?--i cannot pronounce her name as you do."
"miss scatcherd is hasty--you must take care not to offend her; madame pierrot is not a bad sort of person."
"but miss temple is the best--isn't she?"
"miss temple is very good and very clever; she is above the rest, because she knows far more than they do."
"have you been long here?"
"two years."
"are you an orphan?"
"my mother is dead."
"are you happy here?"
"you ask rather too many questions. i have given you answers enough for the present: now i want to read."
but at that moment the summons sounded for dinner; all re-entered the house. the odour which now filled the refectory was scarcely more appetising than that which had regaled our nostrils at breakfast: the dinner was served in two huge tin-plated 126, whence rose a strong steam redolent of rancid fat. i found the mess to consist of indifferent potatoes and strange 127 of 128 meat, mixed and cooked together. of this preparation a tolerably abundant plateful was 129 to each pupil. i ate what i could, and wondered within myself whether every day's fare would be like this.
after dinner, we immediately 130 to the schoolroom: lessons recommenced, and were continued till five o'clock.
the only marked event of the afternoon was, that i saw the girl with whom i had 131 in the verandah dismissed in disgrace by miss scatcherd from a history class, and sent to stand in the middle of the large schoolroom. the punishment seemed to me in a high degree 132, especially for so great a girl--she looked thirteen or 133. i expected she would show signs of great 134 and shame; but to my surprise she neither wept nor blushed: composed, though grave, she stood, the central mark of all eyes. "how can she bear it so quietly--so firmly?" i asked of myself. "were i in her place, it seems to me i should wish the earth to open and swallow me up. she looks as if she were thinking of something beyond her punishment--beyond her situation: of something not round her nor before her. i have heard of day-dreams--is she in a day-dream now? her eyes are 135 on the floor, but i am sure they do not see it-- her sight seems turned in, gone down into her heart: she is looking at what she can remember, i believe; not at what is really present. i wonder what sort of a girl she is--whether good or naughty."
soon after five p.m. we had another meal, consisting of a small mug of coffee, and half-a-slice of brown bread. i devoured my bread and drank my coffee with 136; but i should have been glad of as much more--i was still hungry. half-an-hour's recreation succeeded, then study; then the glass of water and the piece of oat-cake, prayers, and bed. such was my first day at lowood.
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