English
ItwasthemonthofJanuary.IarrivedatLowoodSchoolatnight.Aservanttookmeupsomestairsandintoabigbedroom.Thereweremanybedsintheroom.Thegirlsinthebedswereasleep.Theservanttookmetoanemptybed.1putonmynightclothesandIgotintobed.Soon,1wasasleeptoo.
Iwokeupveryearly.Aloudbellwasringing.Thebedroomwasdarkandcold.Iwatchedtheothergirls.Theywashedincoldwaterandtheydressedquickly.
Therewasaplainbrowndressnexttomybed.Andtherewasapairofugly,heavyshoes.Iwashedquickly.ThenIputonmynewclothes.
Iwasveryhungry.Ifollowedtheothergirlsdownthestairs.Wesatdownatlongtablesinalargedining-room.Ourfoodwasterrible.
‘Thefoodisbadagain,’oneofthegirlssaid.
‘Standup!’ateachershouted.‘Don’ttalk!’
Westoodup.Wedidnotspeak.Wewalkedintoabigschoolroomandwesatdown.
Therewereabouteightygirlsintheschoolroom.Andtherewerefourclasses.Theoldestgirlswereinthefourthclass.Iwasinthefirstclass.
Fourteacherscameintotheroomandwebeganourlessons.Thelessonswerenotinteresting.First,wereadsomepagesinabook.Thenourteacheraskedusquestionsaboutthosepages.
Afterfourhours,wewentoutside.Itwasverycold.Verysoon,abellrang.Lessonsstartedagain.
Threeweekspassed.Oneafternoon,theheadteachercameintotheschoolroom.Theheadteacher’snamewasMissTemple.Mr.Brocklehurstwaswithher.Weallstoodup.Istoodbehindanoldergirl.IdidnotwantMr.Brocklehursttoseeme.
Mr.Brocklehurstwalkedslowlyroundtheroom.Everybodywasveryquiet.AndthenIdroppedmybook!
Mr.Brocklehurststoppedwalking.Helookedatme.
‘Ah!Thenewgirl,’hesaid.‘Comehere,JaneEyre!’Thenhepointedattwooftheoldergirls.‘Youtwogirls—putJaneEyreonthathighchair!’hesaid.
‘LookatJaneEyre,everybody!’Mr.Brocklehurstsaid.‘Thischildisbad.Sheisaliar.Shewillbepunished!MissTemple!Teachers!Girls!Donottalktothischild.’
Thenhespoketomeagain.
‘JaneEyre,youmuststandonthatchairfortwohours,’hesaid.‘Youareabadgirl!’
Thatevening,Icriedandcried.ButMissTemplewaskindtome.
‘Youareagoodpupil,Jane,’shesaid.‘Andyouarenotabadgirl.Iamyourfriend,Jane.’
‘Thankyou,MissTemple,’Isaid.
LowoodSchoolwasinanunhealthyplace.Thebuildingswerewetandcold.Mr.Brocklehurstownedtheschool.Hewasarichman.Buthedidnotbuywarmclothesforus.Andhedidnotbuygoodfoodforus.Everybodyhatedhim.
Inthespring,manyofthegirlsbecamesick.Someofthemlefttheschool.Theynevercameback.Manyofthegirlsdied.
Thatspringwasaterribletime.Wehadnolessons.MissTempleandtheotherteacherstookcareofthesickpupils.Mr.Brocklehursthadtobuybetterfoodforus.Andhehadtobuywarmclothesforus.Mr.Brocklehurstnevercametotheschool.
Thenextyear,LowoodSchoolmovedtoabetterplace.Itwasahealthierplace.Therewerenewschoolrooms,newbedroomsandanewdining-room.Thenewbuildingswerebrightandclean.Theteacherswerehappy.Afterthat,IwashappyatLowoodSchooltoo.
IwasapupilatLowoodSchoolforsixyears.ThenIbecameateacher.Iwasateacherattheschoolfortwoyears.ButIneverreturnedtoGatesheadHall.AndtheReedsneverwrotetome.
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