第18部分(第3/8 頁)

alf…past　seven。

Various　duties　awaited　me　on　my　arrival。　I　had　to　sit　with　the　girls　during　their　hour　of　study；　then　it　was　my　turn　to　read　prayers；　to　see　them　to　bed：　afterwards　I　supped　with　the　other　teachers。　Even　when　we　finally　retired　for　the　night；　the　inevitable　Miss　Gryce　was　still　my　panion：　we　had　only　a　short　end　of　candle　in　our　candlestick；　and　I　dreaded　lest　she　should　talk　till　it　was　all　burnt　out；　fortunately；　however；　the　heavy　supper　she　had　eaten　produced　a　soporific　effect：　she　was　already　snoring　before　I　had　finished　undressing。　There　still　remained　an　inch　of　candle：　I　now　took　out　my　letter；　the　seal　was　an　initial　F。；　I　broke　it；　the　contents　were　brief。

“If　J。E。；　who　advertised　in　the—shire　Herald　of　last　Thursday；　possesses　the　acquirements　mentioned；　and　if　she　is　in　a　position　to　give　satisfactory　references　as　to　character　and　petency；　a　situation　can　be　offered　her　where　there　is　but　one　pupil；　a　little　girl；　under　ten　years　of　age；　and　where　the　salary　is　thirty　pounds　per　annum。　J。E。　is　requested　to　send　references；　name；　address；　and　all　particulars　to　the　direction：—

“Mrs。　Fairfax；　Thornfield；　near　Millcote；—shire。”

I　examined　the　document　long：　the　writing　was　old…fashioned　and　rather　uncertain；　like　that　of　in　elderly　lady。　This　circumstance　was　satisfactory：　a　private　fear　had　haunted　me；　that　in　thus　acting　for　myself；　and　by　my　own　guidance；　I　ran　the　risk　of　getting　into　some　scrape；　and；　above　all　thin