第10部分(第4/8 頁)

d　not　digest　or　prehend　the　serious　or　substantial。

“You　may　look　at　it；”　replied　the　girl；　offering　me　the　book。

I　did　so；　a　brief　examination　convinced　me　that　the　contents　were　less　taking　than　the　title：　Rasselas　looked　dull　to　my　trifling　taste；　I　saw　nothing　about　fairies；　nothing　about　genii；　no　bright　variety　seemed　spread　over　the　closely…printed　pages。　I　returned　it　to　her；　she　received　it　quietly；　and　without　saying　anything　she　was　about　to　relapse　into　her　former　studious　mood：　again　I　ventured　to　disturb　her—

“Can　you　tell　me　what　the　writing　on　that　stone　over　the　door　means？　What　is　Lowood　Institution？”

“This　house　where　you　are　e　to　live。”

“And　why　do　they　call　it　Institution？　Is　it　in　any　way　different　from　other　schools？”

“It　is　partly　a　charity…school：　you　and　I；　and　all　the　rest　of　us；　are　charity…children。　I　suppose　you　are　an　orphan：　are　not　either　your　father　or　your　mother　dead？”

“Both　died　before　I　can　remember。”

“Well；　all　the　girls　here　have　lost　either　one　or　both　parents；　and　this　is　called　an　institution　for　educating　orphans。”

“Do　we　pay　no　money？　Do　they　keep　us　for　nothing？”

“We　pay；　or　our　friends　pay；　fifteen　pounds　a　year　for　each。”

“Then　why　do　they　call　us　charity…children？”

“Because　fifteen　pounds　is　not　enough　for　board　and　teaching；　and　the　deficiency　is　supplied　by　subscription。”

“Who　subscribes？”

“Different　benevolent…minded　ladies　and