makingdisclosuresofmyvillainy;andIwatchedhereyewithpainfulay,expegeverymomenttoseeitsdarkorbturnonmeaglancenandpt.Ilisteoo;andasIhappeobeseatedquiteatthetopoftheroom,Icaughtmostofwhathesaid:itsimportrelievedmefromimmediateapprehension.

    “Isuppose,MissTemple,thethreadIboughtatLowtonwilldo;itstruckmethatitwouldbejustofthequalityforthecaliises,andIsortedtheneedlestomataytellMissSmiththatIfottomakeamemorandumofthedarningneedles,butsheshallhavesomepaperssentiweek;andsheisnot,onanyat,togiveoutmorethaimetoeachpupil:iftheyhavemore,theyareapttobecarelessandlosethem.And,Oma’am!Iwishthewoollenstogswerebetterlookedto!—whenIwasherelast,Iwentintothekit-gardenandexamiheclothesdryingontheliherewasaquantityofblackhoseinaverybadstateofrepair:fromthesizeoftheholesinthemIwassuretheyhadnotbeenwellmendedfromtimetotime.”

    Hepaused.

    “Yourdiresshallbeatteo,sir,”saidMissTemple.

    “And,ma’am,”hetihelauellsmesomeofthegirlshavetwotuckersintheweek:itistoomuch;theruleslimitthemtoone.”

    “IthinkIexplainthatcircumstance,sir.AgnesandCatherineJohnstonewereiaketeawithsomefriendsatLowtonlastThursday,andIgavethemleavetoputouckersfortheoccasion.”

    Mr.Brocklehurstnodded.

    “Well,foromaypass;butpleasenottoletthecircumstanceoccurtoooften.Andthereisahingwhichsurprisedme;Ifind,ilingatswiththehousekeeper,thatalunch,sistingofbreadandcheese,hastwicebeenservedouttothegirlsdurifht.Howisthis?Ilookedovertheregulations,andIfindnosuchmealasluioned.Whointroducedthisinnovation?andbywhatauth