tothetreoftheschoolroom,andobligethemtostaillthesermonwasfinished.Sometimestheirfeetfailedthem,andtheysanktogetheriheywerethenproppedupwiththemonitors’highstools.

    IhavealludedtothevisitsofMr.Brocklehurst;andihatgentlemanwasfromhomeduringthegreaterpartofthefirstmonthaftermyarrival;perhapsprolonginghisstaywithhisfriendthearchdea:hisabsencewasarelieftome.IsaythatIhadmyownreasonsfordreadinghising:butehedidatlast.

    Oernoon(IhadthehreeweeksatLowood),asIwassittingwithaslateinmyhand,puzzlingoverasuminlongdivision,myeyes,raisedinabstratothewindow,caughtsightofafigurejustpassing:Ireisedalmostinstinctivelythatgauntoutline;awomier,alltheschool,teachersincluded,roseenmasse,itwasnotnecessaryformetolookupioascertainwhoseentraheythusgreeted.Alongstridemeasuredtheschoolroom,alybesideMissTemple,whoherselfhadrisen,stoodthesameblanwhichhadfrownedonmesoominouslyfromthehearthrugofGateshead.Inowglancedsidewaysatthispieceofarchitecture.Yes,Iwasright:itwasMr.Brocklehurst,buttonedupinasurtout,andlookinglonger,narrower,andmidthanever.

    Ihadmyownreasonsforbeingdismayedatthisapparition;toowellIrememberedtheperfidioushintsgivenbyMrs.Reedaboutmydisposition,&c.;thepromisepledgedbyMr.BrocklehursttoappriseMissTempleaeachersofmyviciousnature.AllalongIhadbeendreadingthefulfilmentofthispromise,—Ihadbeenlookingoutdailyforthe“ingMan,”whoseinformationrespegmypastlifeandversationwastobrandmeasabadchildforever:nowtherehewas.

    HestoodatMissTemple’sside;heeakinglowinherear:Ididnotdoubthewas