attitude；' etc。 etc。
A chapter having been read through twice； the books were closed and
the girls examined。 The lesson had comprised part of the reign of
Charles I； and there were sundry questions about tonnage and
poundage and ship…money； which most of them appeared unable to answer；
still； every little difficulty was solved instantly when it reached
Burns： her memory seemed to have retained the substance of the whole
lesson； and she was ready with answers on every point。 I kept
expecting that Miss Scatcherd would praise her attention； but； instead
of that； she suddenly cried out…
'You dirty； disagreeable girl！ you have never cleaned your nails
this morning！'
Burns made no answer： I wondered at her silence。
'Why；' thought I； 'does she not explain that she could neither
clean her nails nor wash her face； as the water was frozen？'
My attention was now called off by Miss Smith desiring me to hold a
skein of thread： while she was winding it； she talked to me from
time to time； asking whether I had ever been at school before； whether
I could mark； stitch； knit； etc。； till she dismissed me； I could not
pursue my observations on Miss Scatcherd's movements。 When I
returned to my seat； that lady was just delivering an order of which I
did not catch the import； but Burns immediately left the class； and
going into the small inner room where the books were kept； returned in
half a minute； carrying in her hand a bundle of twigs tied together at
one end。 This ominous tool she presented to Miss Scatcherd with a
respectful curtsey； then she quietly； and without being told； unloosed
her pinafore； and the teacher instantly and sharply inflicted on her
neck a dozen strokes with the bunch of twigs。 Not a tear rose to
Burns's eye； and； while I paused from my sewing； because my fingers
quivered at this spectacle with a sentiment of unavailing and impotent
anger； not a feature of her pensive face altered its ordinary
expression。
'Hardened girl！' exclaimed Miss Scatcherd； 'nothing can correct you
of your slatternly habits： carry the rod away。'
Burns obeyed： I looked at her narrowly as she emerged from the
book…closet； she was just putting back her handkerchief into her
pocket； and the trace of a tear glistened on her thin cheek。
The play…hour in the evening I thought the pleasantest fraction
of the day at Lowood： the bit of bread； the draught of coffee
swallowed at five o'clock had revived vitality； if it had not
satisfied hunger： the long restraint of the day was slackened； the
schoolroom felt warmer than in the morning… its fires being allowed to
burn a little more brightly； to supply； in some measure； the place
of candles； not yet introduced： the ruddy gloaming； the licensed
uproar； the confusion of many voices gave one a welcome sense of
liberty。
On the evening of the day on which I had seen Miss Scatcherd flog
her pupil； Burns； I wandered as usual among the forms and tables and
laughing groups without a companion； yet not feeling lonely： when I
passed the windows； I now and then lifted a blind； and looked out；
it snowed fast； a drift was already forming against the lower panes；
putting my ear close to the window； I could distinguish from the
gleeful tumult within； the disconsolate moan of the wind outside。
Probably； if I had lately left a good home and kind parents； this
would have been the hour when I should most keenly have regretted
the separation； that wind would then have saddened my heart； this
obscure chaos would have disturbed my peace！ as it was； I derived from
both a strange excitement； and reckless and feverish； I wished the
wind to howl more wildly； the gloom to deepen to darkness； and the
confusion to rise to clamour。
Jumping over forms； and creeping under tables； I made my way to one
of the fire…places； there； kneeling by the high wire fender； I found
Burns； absorbed； silent； abstracted from all round her by the
companionship of a book； which she read by the dim glare of the
embers。
'Is it still Rasselas？' I asked； coming behind her。
'Yes；' she said； 'and I have just finished it。'
And in five minutes more she shut it up。 I was glad of this。
'Now；' thought I； 'I can perhaps get her to talk。' I sat down by
her on the floor。
'What is your name besides Burns？'
'Helen。'
'Do you come a long way from here？'
'I come from a place farther north； quite on the borders of
Scotland。'
'Will you ever go back？'
'I hope so； but nobody can be sure of the future。'
'You must wish to leave Lowood？'
'No！ why should I？ I was sent to Lowood to get an education； and it
would be of no use going away until I have attained that object。'
'But that teacher； Miss Scatcherd； is so cruel to you？'
'Cruel？ Not at all！ She is severe： she dislikes my faults。'
'And if I were in your place I should dislike her； I should
resist her。 If she struck me with that rod； I should get it from her
hand； I should break it under her nose。'
'Probably you would do nothing of the sort： but if you did； Mr。
Brocklehurst would expel you from the school； that would be a great
grief to your relations。 It is far better to endure patiently a
smart which nobody feels but yourself； than to commit a hasty action
whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you； and
besides； the Bible bids us return good for evil。'
'But then it seems disgraceful to be flogged； and to be sent to
stand in the middle of a room full of people； and you are such a great
girl： I am far younger than you； and I could not bear it。'
'Yet it would be your duty to bear it； if you could not avoid it：
it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be
required to bear。'
I heard her with wonder： I could not comprehend this doctrine of
endurance； and still less could I understand or sympathise with the
forbearance she expressed for her chastiser。 Still I felt that Helen
Burns considered things by a light invisible to my eyes。 I suspected
she might be right and I wrong； but I would not ponder the matter
deeply； like Felix； I put it off to a more convenient season。
'You say you have faults； Helen： what are they？ To me you seem very
good。'
'Then learn from me； not to judge by appearances： I am； as Miss
Scatcherd said； slatternly； I seldom put； and never keep； things in
order； I am careless； I forget rules； I read when I should learn my
lessons； I have no method； and sometimes I say； like you； I cannot
bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements。 This is all very
provoking to Miss Scatcherd； who is naturally neat； punctual； and
particular。'
'And cross and cruel；' I added； but Helen Burns would not admit
my addition： she kept silence。
'Is Miss Temple as severe to you as Miss Scatcherd？'
At the utterance of Miss Temple's name； a soft smile flitted over
her grave face。
'Miss Temple is full of goodness； it pains her to be severe to
any one； even the worst in the school： she sees my errors； and tells
me of them gently； and if I do anything worthy of praise； she gives me
my meed liberally。 One strong proof of my wretchedly defective
nature is； that even her expostulations； so mild； so rational； have no
influence to cure me of my faults； and even her praise； though I value
it most highly； cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight。'
'That is curious；' said I； 'it is so easy to be careful。'
'For you I have no doubt it is。 I observed you in your class this
morning； and saw you were closely attentive： your thoughts never
seemed to wander while Miss Miller explained the lesson and questioned
you。 Now； mine continually rove away； when I should be listening to
Miss Scatcherd； and collecting all she says with assiduity； often I
lose the very sound of her voice； I fall into a sort of dream。
Sometimes I think I am in Northumberland； and that the noises I hear
round me are the bubbling of a little brook which runs through
Deepden； near our house；… then； when it comes to my turn to reply； I
have to be awakened； and having heard nothing of what was read for
listening to the visionary brook； I have no answer ready。'
'Yet how well you replied this afternoon。'
'It was mere chance； the subject on which we had been reading had
interested me。 This afternoon； instead of dreaming of Deepden； I was
wondering how a man who wished to do right could act so unjustly and
unwisely as Charles the First sometimes did； and I thought what a pity
it was that； with his integrity and conscientiousness； he could see no
farther than the prerogatives of the crown。 If he had but been able to
look to a distance； and see how what they call the spirit of the age
was tending！ Still； I like Charles… I respect him… I pity him； poor
murdered king！ Yes； his enemies were the worst： they shed blood they
had no right to shed。 How dared they kill him！'
Helen was talking to herself now： she had forgotten I could not
very well understand her… that I was ignorant； or nearly so； of the
subject she discussed。 I recalled her to my level。
'And