第9部分(第4/8 頁)

　assumed　the　fourth　vacant　chair；　which　was　that　nearest　the　door；　and　around　which　the　smallest　of　the　children　were　assembled：　to　this　inferior　class　I　was　called；　and　placed　at　the　bottom　of　it。

Business　now　began；　the　day’s　Collect　was　repeated；　then　certain　texts　of　Scripture　were　said；　and　to　these　succeeded　a　protracted　reading　of　chapters　in　the　Bible；　which　lasted　an　hour。　By　the　time　that　exercise　was　terminated；　day　had　fully　dawned。　The　indefatigable　bell　now　sounded　for　the　fourth　time：　the　classes　were　marshalled　and　marched　into　another　room　to　breakfast：　how　glad　I　was　to　behold　a　prospect　of　getting　something　to　eat！　I　was　now　nearly　sick　from　inanition；　having　taken　so　little　the　day　before。

The　refectory　was　a　great；　low…ceiled；　gloomy　room；　on　two　long　tables　smoked　basins　of　something　hot；　which；　however；　to　my　dismay；　sent　forth　an　odour　far　from　inviting。　I　saw　a　universal　manifestation　of　discontent　when　the　fumes　of　the　repast　met　the　nostrils　of　those　destined　to　swallow　it；　from　the　van　of　the　procession；　the　tall　girls　of　the　first　class；　rose　the　whispered　words—

“Disgusting！　The　porridge　is　burnt　again！”

“Silence！”　ejaculated　a　voice；　not　that　of　Miss　Miller；　but　one　of　the　upper　teachers；　a　little　and　dark　personage；　smartly　dressed；　but　of　somewhat　morose　aspect；　who　installed　herself　at　the　top　of　one　table；　while　a　more　buxom　lady　presided　at　the　other。　I　looked　in　vain　for　her　I　had　first　seen　the　night　before；　sh