第5部分(第3/8 頁)

　go　to　school？”

Again　I　reflected：　I　scarcely　knew　what　school　was：　Bessie　sometimes　spoke　of　it　as　a　place　where　young　ladies　sat　in　the　stocks；　wore　backboards；　and　were　expected　to　be　exceedingly　genteel　and　precise：　John　Reed　hated　his　school；　and　abused　his　master；　but　John　Reed’s　tastes　were　no　rule　for　mine；　and　if　Bessie’s　accounts　of　school…discipline　（gathered　from　the　young　ladies　of　a　family　where　she　had　lived　before　ing　to　Gateshead）　were　somewhat　appalling；　her　details　of　certain　acplishments　attained　by　these　same　young　ladies　were；　I　thought；　equally　attractive。　She　boasted　of　beautiful　paintings　of　landscapes　and　flowers　by　them　executed；　of　songs　they　could　sing　and　pieces　they　could　play；　of　purses　they　could　；　of　French　books　they　could　translate；　till　my　spirit　was　moved　to　emulation　as　I　listened。　Besides；　school　would　be　a　plete　change：　it　implied　a　long　journey；　an　entire　separation　from　Gateshead；　an　entrance　into　a　new　life。

“I　should　indeed　like　to　go　to　school；”　was　the　audible　conclusion　of　my　musings。

“Well；　well！　who　knows　what　may　happen？”　said　Mr。　Lloyd；　as　he　got　up。　“The　child　ought　to　have　change　of　air　and　scene；”　he　added；　speaking　to　himself；　“nerves　not　in　a　good　state。”

Bessie　now　returned；　at　the　same　moment　the　carriage　was　heard　rolling　up　the　gravel…walk。

“Is　that　your　mistress；　nurse？”　asked　Mr。　Lloyd。　“I　should　like　to　speak　to　her　before　I　go。”

Bessie　invited　him　to　walk　into　the　breakf