第13部分(第3/8 頁)

“Julia’s　hair　curls　naturally；”　returned　Miss　Temple；　still　more　quietly。

“Naturally！　Yes；　but　we　are　not　to　conform　to　nature；　I　wish　these　girls　to　be　the　children　of　Grace：　and　why　that　abundance？　I　have　again　and　again　intimated　that　I　desire　the　hair　to　be　arranged　closely；　modestly；　plainly。　Miss　Temple；　that　girl’s　hair　must　be　cut　off　entirely；　I　will　send　a　barber　to…morrow：　and　I　see　others　who　have　far　too　much　of　the　excrescence—that　tall　girl；　tell　her　to　turn　round。　Tell　all　the　first　form　to　rise　up　and　direct　their　faces　to　the　wall。”

Miss　Temple　passed　her　handkerchief　over　her　lips；　as　if　to　smooth　away　the　involuntary　smile　that　curled　them；　she　gave　the　order；　however；　and　when　the　first　class　could　take　in　；　they　obeyed。　Leaning　a　little　back　on　my　bench；　I　could　see　the　looks　and　grimaces　with　which　they　mented　on　this　man？uvre：　it　was　a　pity　Mr。　Brocklehurst　could　not　see　them　too；　he　would　perhaps　have　felt　that；　whatever　he　might　do　with　the　outside　of　the　cup　and　platter；　the　inside　was　further　beyond　his　interference　than　he　imagined。

He　scrutinised　the　reverse　of　these　living　medals　some　five　minutes；　then　pronounced　sentence。　These　words　fell　like　the　knell　of　doom—

“All　those　top…knots　must　be　cut　off。”

Miss　Temple　seemed　to　remonstrate。

“Madam；”　he　pursued；　“I　have　a　Master　to　serve　whose　kingdom　is　not　of　this　world：　my　mission　is　to　mortify　in　these　girls　the　lusts　of　the　flesh；　to　teach　them　to