第17部分(第4/8 頁)

　thus　far　continued　superintendent　of　the　seminary：　to　her　instruction　I　owed　the　best　part　of　my　acquirements；　her　friendship　and　society　had　been　my　continual　solace；　she　had　stood　me　in　the　stead　of　mother；　governess；　and；　latterly；　panion。　At　this　period　she　married；　removed　with　her　husband　（a　clergyman；　an　excellent　man；　almost　worthy　of　such　a　wife）　to　a　distant　county；　and　consequently　was　lost　to　me。

From　the　day　she　left　I　was　no　longer　the　same：　with　her　was　gone　every　settled　feeling；　every　association　that　had　made　Lowood　in　some　degree　a　home　to　me。　I　had　imbibed　from　her　something　of　her　nature　and　much　of　her　habits：　more　harmonious　thoughts：　what　seemed　better　regulated　feelings　had　bee　the　inmates　of　my　mind。　I　had　given　in　allegiance　to　duty　and　order；　I　was　quiet；　I　believed　I　was　content：　to　the　eyes　of　others；　usually　even　to　my　own；　I　appeared　a　disciplined　and　subdued　character。

But　destiny；　in　the　shape　of　the　Rev。　Mr。　Nasmyth；　came　between　me　and　Miss　Temple：　I　saw　her　in　her　travelling　dress　step　into　a　post…chaise；　shortly　after　the　marriage　ceremony；　I　watched　the　chaise　mount　the　hill　and　disappear　beyond　its　brow；　and　then　retired　to　my　own　room；　and　there　spent　in　solitude　the　greatest　part　of　the　half…holiday　granted　in　honour　of　the　occasion。

I　walked　about　the　chamber　most　of　the　time。　I　imagined　myself　only　to　be　regretting　my　loss；　and　thinking　how　to　repair　it；　but　when　my　reflections　were　concluded；　and　I　looked　up　a