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carriage, and he will have, at least, as clearly as words can give
it, a correct idea of the exterior of Miss Temple -- Maria Temple,
as I afterwards saw the name written in a prayer-book intrusted to
me to carry to church.

The superintendent 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 refreshment of the whole school. The order
was now given "To the garden!" Each put on a coarse straw bonnet,
with strings of coloured calico, and a cloak of grey frieze. 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 blight and brown decay. I shuddered
as I stood and looked round me: it was an inclement day for outdoor
exercise; not positively rainy, but darkened by a drizzling 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 sundry pale and thin ones herded together for
shelter and warmth in the verandah; and amongst these, as the dense
mist penetrated 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

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