第9部分(第1/8 頁)

ool；　my　little　girl？”

I　explained　to　her　that　I　had　no　parents。　She　inquired　how　long　they　had　been　dead：　then　how　old　I　was；　what　was　my　name；　whether　I　could　read；　write；　and　sew　a　little：　then　she　touched　my　cheek　gently　with　her　forefinger；　and　saying；　“She　hoped　I　should　be　a　good　child；”　dismissed　me　along　with　Miss　Miller。

The　lady　I　had　left　might　be　about　twenty…nine；　the　one　who　went　with　me　appeared　some　years　younger：　the　first　impressed　me　by　her　voice；　look；　and　air。　Miss　Miller　was　more　ordinary；　ruddy　in　plexion；　though　of　a　careworn　countenance；　hurried　in　gait　and　action；　like　one　who　had　always　a　multiplicity　of　tasks　on　hand：　she　looked；　indeed；　what　I　afterwards　found　she　really　was；　an　under…teacher。　Led　by　her；　I　passed　from　partment　to　partment；　from　passage　to　passage；　of　a　large　and　irregular　building；　till；　emerging　from　the　total　and　somewhat　dreary　silence　pervading　that　portion　of　the　house　we　had　traversed；　we　came　upon　the　hum　of　many　voices；　and　presently　entered　a　wide；　long　room；　with　great　deal　tables；　two　at　each　end；　on　each　of　which　burnt　a　pair　of　candles；　and　seated　all　round　on　benches；　a　congregation　of　girls　of　every　age；　from　nine　or　ten　to　twenty。　Seen　by　the　dim　light　of　the　dips；　their　number　to　me　appeared　countless；　though　not　in　reality　exceeding　eighty；　they　were　uniformly　dressed　in　brown　stuff　frocks　of　quaint　fashion；　and　long　holland　pinafores。　It　was　the　hour　of　study；　they　were　engaged　in　conning　over