withtheoutsideofthedplatter,theinsidewasfurtherbeyondhisinterferehanheimagined.

    Hescrutihereverseoftheselivingmedalssomefivemihenpronouncedsentehesewordsfellliketheknellofdoom—

    “Allthosetop-knotsmustbecutoff.”

    MissTempleseemedtoremonstrate.

    “Madam,”hepursued,“IhaveaMastertoservewhosekingdomisnotofthisworld:mymissionistomortifyinthesegirlsthelustsoftheflesh;toteachthemtoclothethemselveswithshame-faessandsobriety,notwithbraidedhairandcostlyapparel;andeachoftheyoungpersonsbeforeushasastringofhairtwistedinplaitswhiityitselfmighthavewoven;these,Irepeat,mustbecutoff;thinkofthetimewasted,of—”

    Mr.Brocklehurstwashereinterrupted:threeothervisitors,ladies,eredtheroom.Theyoughttohaveealittlesooohaveheardhislectureondress,fortheyweresplendidlyattiredi,silk,andfurs.Thetwoyouhetrio(finegirlsofsixteenaeen)hadgreybeaverhats,theninfashion,shadedwithostrichplumes,andfromuhebrimofthisgracefulhead-dressfellaprofusionoflighttresses,elaboratelycurled;theelderladywasenvelopedinacostlyvelvetshawl,trimmedwithermine,andsheworeafalsefrontofFrenchcurls.

    TheseladiesweredeferentiallyreceivedbyMissTemple,asMrs.andtheMissesBrocklehurst,andductedtoseatsofhonouratthetopoftheroom.Itseemstheyhadeinthecarriagewiththeirrevereive,andhadbeendugarummagingscrutinyoftheroomupstairs,whilehetransactedbusinesswiththehousekeeper,questiohelaundress,auredthesuperinteheynowproceededtoaddressdiversremarksandreproofstoMissSmith,whowaschargedwiththecareofthelinenandtheiionofthedormitorie