第10部分(第3/8 頁)

ke　aspect；　a　stone　tablet　over　the　door　bore　this　inscription：—

“Lowood　Institution。—This　portion　was　rebuilt　A。D。—；　by　Naomi　Brocklehurst；　of　Brocklehurst　Hall；　in　this　county。”　“Let　your　light　so　shine　before　men；　that　they　may　see　your　good　works；　and　glorify　your　Father　which　is　in　heaven。”—　St。　Matt。　v。　16。

I　read　these　words　over　and　over　again：　I　felt　that　an　explanation　belonged　to　them；　and　was　unable　fully　to　perate　their　import。　I　was　still　pondering　the　signification　of　“Institution；”　and　endeavouring　to　make　out　a　connection　between　the　first　words　and　the　verse　of　Scripture；　when　the　sound　of　a　cough　close　behind　me　made　me　turn　my　head。　I　saw　a　girl　sitting　on　a　stone　bench　near；　she　was　bent　over　a　book；　on　the　perusal　of　which　she　seemed　intent：　from　where　I　stood　I　could　see　the　title—it　was　Rasselas；　a　name　that　struck　me　as　strange；　and　consequently　attractive。　In　turning　a　leaf　she　happened　to　look　up；　and　I　said　to　her　directly—

“Is　your　book　interesting？”　I　had　already　formed　the　intention　of　asking　her　to　lend　it　to　me　some　day。

“I　like　it；”　she　answered；　after　a　pause　of　a　second　or　two；　during　which　she　examined　me。

“What　is　it　about？”　I　continued。　I　hardly　know　where　I　found　the　hardihood　thus　to　open　a　conversation　with　a　stranger；　the　step　was　contrary　to　my　nature　and　habits：　but　I　think　her　occupation　touched　a　chord　of　sympathy　somewhere；　for　I　too　liked　reading；　though　of　a　frivolous　and　childish　kind；　I　coul