istedmeuptotheheightofMr.Brocklehurst’shathewaswithinayardofme,andthataspreadofsheandpurplesilkpelissesandacloudofsilveryplumageextendedandwavedbelowme.

    Mr.Brocklehursthemmed.

    “Ladies,”saidhe,turningtohisfamily,“MissTemple,teachers,andchildren,youallseethisgirl?”

    Ofcoursetheydid;forIfelttheireyesdirectedlikeburning-glassesagainstmyscorchedskin.

    “Youseesheisyetyoung;youobserveshepossessestheordinaryformofchildhood;GodhasgraciouslygiveheshapethatHehasgiventoallofus;nosignaldeformitypoiasamarkedcharacter.WhowouldthinkthattheEvilOnehadalreadyfoundaservantainher?Yetsuch,Igrievetosay,isthecase.”

    Apause—inwhichIbegantosteadythepalsyofmynerves,andtofeelthattheRubiassed;andthatthetrial,noloobeshirked,mustbefirmlysustained.

    “Mydearchildren,”pursuedtheblackmarbleclergyman,withpathos,“thisisasad,amelancholyoccasion;foritbeydutytowarnyou,thatthisgirl,whomightbeoneofGod’sownlambs,isalittlecastaway:notamemberofthetrueflock,butevidentlyaninterloperandanalien.Youmustbeonyuardagainsther;youmustshunherexample;ifnecessary,avoidherpany,excludeherfromyoursports,andshutheroutfromyourverse.Teachers,youmustwatchher:keepyoureyesonhermovements,weighwellherwords,scrutiniseheras,punishherbodytosavehersoul:if,indeed,suchsalvationbepossible,for(mytoerswhileItellit)thisgirl,thischild,thenativeofaChristianland,worsethanmanyalittleheathenwhosaysitsprayerstoBrahmaandkneelsbefgernaut—thisgirlis—aliar!”

    Noauseoftenminutes,duringwhichI,bythistimeinperfectpossession