# ■ 5 Mr Brocklehurst's visit and its results

It was difficult for me to get used to the school rules at Lowood，and to the hard physical conditions．In January，February and March there was deep snow，but we still had to spend an hour outside every day．We had no boots or gloves，and my hands and feet ached badly．We were growing children，and needed more food than was provided．Sometimes the big girls bullied us little ones and made us hand over our teatime bread or evening biscuit．

One afternoon，when I had been at Lowood for three weeks，a visitor arrived．All the teachers and pupils stood respectfully as he entered the schoolroom．I looked up．There，next to Miss Temple，stood the same black column which had frowned on me in the breakfast-room at Gateshead．I had been afraid he would come．I remembered only too well Mrs Reed's description of my character，and the promise he had given her to warn teachers at Lowood about my wickedness．Now they would consider me a bad child for ever．

At first Mr Brocklehurst spoke in a murmur to Miss Temple．I could just hear because I was in the front of the class．

Tell the housekeeper she must count the needles，and only give out one at a time to the girls，they lose them so easily！And Miss Temple，please make sure the girls stockings are mended more carefully．Some of them have a lot of holes．'

I shall follow your instructions，sir，'said Miss Temple．

And another thing which surprises me，I find that a lunch of bread and cheese has been served to the girls recently．Why is this？There is nothing about it in the rules！Who is responsible？' 'I myself，sir，'answered Miss Temple．'The breakfast was so badly cooked that the girls couldn't possibly eat it，so they were hungry．'

Madam，listen to me for a moment．You know that I am trying to bring up these girls to be strong，patient and unselfish．If some little luxury is not available，do not replace it with something else，but tell them to be brave and suffer，like Christ Himself．Remember what the Bible says，man shall not live by bread alone，but by the word of God！Madam，when you put bread into these children's mouths，you feed their bodies but you starve，their souls！'

Miss Temple did not reply．She looked straight in front of hef，and her face was as cold and hard as marble．Mr Brocklehurst，on the other hand，now looked round at the girls，and almost jumped in surprise

Who—what is that girl with red hair，with curls，madam，with curls everywhere？'

That is Julia Severn，'said Miss Temple quietly．'Her hair curls naturally，you see．'

Naturally！Yes，but it is God we obey，not nature！Miss Temple，that girl's hair must be cut off．I have said again and again that hair must be arranged modestly and plainly．I see other girls here with too much hair．Yes，I shall send someone tomorrow to cut all the girls' hair．'

Mr Brocklehurst…'began Miss Temple．

No， Miss Temple，I insist． To please God these girls must have short， straight hair and plain， simple clothes…'

He was interrupted by the arrival of three ladies，who had unfortunately not heard his comments on dress and hair．They all wore the most expensive clothes and had beautiful，long，curly hair．I heard Miss Temple greet them as the wife and daughters of Mr Brocklehurst．

I had hoped to hide my face behind my slate while Mr Brocklehurst was talking，so that he would not recognize me，but suddenly the slate fell from my hand and broke in two on the hard floor．I knew only too well what would happen next．

A careless girl！'said Mr Brocklehurst quietly，almost to himself'The new girl，I see． I must not forget to say something to the whole school about her．'and then to me，aloud，

Come here，child．'

I was too frightened to move，but two big girls pushed me towards him． Miss Temple whispered kindly in my ear，'Don't be afraid，Jane．I saw it was an accident．'Her kindness touched me，but I knew that soon she would hear the lies about me，and then she would hate me！

Put the child on that chair，said Mr Brocklehurst．Someone lifted me up on to a high chair，so that I was close to his nose．Frightened and shaking，I felt everyone's eyes on me．

You see this girl？'began the black marble column．'She is young，she books like an ordinary child．Nothing about her tells you she is evil． But she is all wickedness！ Children， don't talk to her，stay away from her．Teachers， watch her， punish her body to save her soul—if indeed she has a soul，because this Child…I can hardly say it… this child is a liar！'

How shocking！'said the two Brocklehurst daughters，each wiping a tear or two from their eyes．

I learned this fact，'continued the great man，'from Mrs Reed，the kind lady who took care of her after her parents'death and brought her up as a member of the family． In the end Mrs Reed was so afraid of this child's evil influence on her own children that she had to send her here．Teachers， watch her carefully！'

The Brocklehurst farmily stood up and moved slowly out of the schoolroom．At the door， my judge turned and said，

She must stand half an hour longer on that chair， and nobody may speak to her for the rest of the day．'

So there I was， high up on the chair， publicly displayed as an ugly example of evil．Feelings of shame and anger boiled up inside me，but just as I felt I could not bear it any longer，Helen Burns walked past me and lifted her eyes to mine． Her look calmed me．What a smile she had！It was an intelligent，brave smile，lighting up her thin face and her tired grey eyes．

When all the girls left the schoolroom at five o'clock， I climbed down from the chair and sat on the floor．I no longer felt strong or calm， and I began to cry bitterly．I had wanted so much to make friends at Lowood， to be good， to deserve praise． Now nobody would believe me or perhaps even speak to me．Could I ever start a new life after this？

Never！'I cried．'I wish I were dead！'Just then Helen arrived，bringing my coffee and bread．I was too upset to eat or drink，but she sat with me for some time， talking gently to me， wiping away my tears， and helping me to recover． When Miss Temple came to look for me， she found us sitting quietly together．

Gome up to my room，both of you，'she said．

We went to her warm，comfortable room upstairs．

Now tell me the truth， Jane，'she said．'You have been accused， and you must have the chance to defend yourself．'

And so I told her the whole story of my lonely childhood with the Reed family，and of my terrible experience in the red room．

I know Dr Lloyd，who saw you when you were ill，'she said．'I'll write to him and see if he agrees with what you say．If he does，I shall publicly tell the school you are not a liar．I believe you now，Jane．'And she kissed me．She turned to Helen．

How are you tonight， Helen？ Have you coughed a lot today？'

Not very much，ma'am．'

And the pain in your chest？'

It's a little better，I think．'

Miss Temple examined Helen carefully，and sighed a little Then she gave us some tea and toast．For a while I felt I was in heaven，eating and drinking in the warm，pretty room，with kind Miss Temple and Helen．

But when we reached our bedroom，Miss Scatcherd was checking the drawers．

Burns！'she said．'Yours is far too untidy！Tomorrow，all day， you will wear a notice on your forehead saying UN－TIDY！'

Helen said Miss Scatcherd was quite right，and wore the notice all the next day But I was furious，and at the end of the afternoon，tore it off her head and threw it in the fire．

When Miss Temple received a letter from Dr Lloyd，agreeing that what I had said was true，she told the whole school that I had been wrongly accused and was not a liar From that moment，I felt I was accepted，and set to work to learn as much as I could，and make as many friends as possible．

■ 5 布魯克赫斯特先生的來訪及其後果

我很難適應洛伍德的校規和艱苦的生活條件。1月、2月和3月，雪積得很厚，但我們仍必須每天在戶外活動一小時。我們沒有靴子和手套，我的手腳疼得很厲害。我們正在長身體，需要比供給量更多的食品。有時大孩子欺負小孩子，逼我們把下午茶、麵包或晚上的餅乾交給她們。

我到洛伍德三星期後的一個下午，有一個客人來了。所有的老師和學生都恭敬地站著，看他走進教室。我抬頭一看，站在丹伯爾小姐身邊的不就是在蓋茨赫德的早餐室裡對我皺眉頭的大黑柱子嘛！我就怕他來。我清清楚楚地記得裡德太太就我品行所說的一番話，也記得他向她保證要提醒洛伍德的老師們我是多麼壞。現在她們會永遠認為我是個壞孩子了。

布魯克赫斯特先生先對丹伯爾小姐低語了幾句。因為站在前排，我剛好能聽到一點兒。

“告訴管家她必須清點針數，每次只發給學生們一根針，她們太容易弄丟了。丹伯爾小姐，姑娘們的長筒襪應該補得再仔細些，有的洞太多了。”

“先生，我會照辦的。”丹伯爾小姐說。

“還有一件事讓我奇怪，我發現最近孩子們吃了一頓有面包和奶酪的午飯。為什麼？校規裡沒這規定！誰負責任？”

“先生，我本人。”丹伯爾小姐答道。“早餐做得很差。孩子們無法吃下去，所以餓著肚子。”

“女士，你聽我說。你知道我要把這些孩子培養得強壯、耐心和無私。如果缺了點兒奢侈品，不要用其他東西來彌補，應該告訴她們要勇敢，要像基督那樣去受苦。記住《聖經》裡的話，人不能僅靠麵包活著，人要靠上帝的話活著。女士，當你把麵包放到這些孩子的嘴裡時，你填飽了她們的肚子，卻給她們的心靈帶來了饑饉。”

丹伯爾小姐沒有答話，她直視前面，臉孔如大理石般冰冷僵硬。而布魯克赫斯特先生這時卻掃視著孩子們，突然驚訝得幾乎跳起來。

“這是誰？這個紅頭髮女孩兒是誰？鬈髮，滿頭鬈髮！”

“她是朱麗雅·沙文。”丹伯爾小姐輕聲說。“您知道，她天生鬈髮。”

“天生！是的，可我們遵從的是上帝，而不是天性！丹伯爾小姐，必須得把那姑娘的頭髮剪了。我曾反覆說頭髮必須梳理得簡單樸實，我看這兒的其他孩子頭髮也太多了。好吧，明天我派個人來，給所有的孩子理髮。”

“布魯克赫斯特先生……”丹伯爾小姐剛開口。

“不，丹伯爾小姐，我一定要這樣做。為了讓上帝高興，這些孩子必須只留短短的直髮，穿樸素、簡單的衣服……”

他的講話被三位女士的到來打斷了，可惜她們沒有聽到他關於頭髮和衣裝的高論。她們都穿著最昂貴的衣服，留著長長的美麗的鬈髮。我聽到丹伯爾小姐和她們打招呼，她們是布魯克赫斯特先生的太太和女兒。

他說話時，我本想把自己的臉藏到石板後，好讓他認不出來，可是石板突然從我手中滑落，掉在地上碎成了兩片。我完全知道下面該發生什麼了。

“粗心大意的孩子！”布魯克赫斯特先生輕聲說，幾乎像在自言自語。“我知道了，是新來的。我不能忘了向全校講講她的事。”然後他大聲對我說：

“孩子，到這兒來。”

我害怕得動彈不得，但兩個大女孩把我推了過去。丹伯爾小姐親切地在我耳邊悄悄說：“簡，別害怕。我看到你不是故意的。”她的好心感動了我，可我知道她會聽到關於我的謊言，然後就會討厭我了！

“讓她站在那把椅子上。”布魯克赫斯特先生說。於是有人把我抱到一把高高的椅子上，我都快碰到他的鼻子了。我害怕得發抖，覺得每個人的眼睛都在盯著我。

“你們看到這個女孩了？”黑石頭柱子開始說話了。“她很小，看上去像個普通的孩子。從她身上看不出她是邪惡的，但她壞透了。孩子們，不要跟她說話，躲開她。老師們，監視她，懲罰她的身體以便拯救她的靈魂——如果她有靈魂。因為這個孩子……我真難以啟齒……這孩子會撒謊！”

“真叫人吃驚！”布魯克赫斯特的兩個女兒同聲說，還用手擦著眼中的一兩滴淚。

這個了不起的人又說：“我是從裡德太太那兒得知這一切的。這位好心的女士從她父母去世後就照顧她，把她當作自家人一樣撫養。最後裡德太太因為非常擔心這孩子會對自己的子女產生惡劣的影響，不得不把她送到這裡。老師們，認真監督她！”

布魯克赫斯特一家站起來，慢慢走出教室。走到門口，我的審判者轉過身來說：

“她還得在椅子上再站上半個小時，今天誰也不許同她講話。”

於是我就這樣高高地站在椅子上，作為邪惡的醜惡典型示眾。我心中充滿羞愧和憤怒，我正覺得再也無法忍受時，海倫·伯恩斯從我面前走過，抬起頭來看著我。她的目光讓我平靜下來。她笑得多好！那是智慧、勇敢的微笑，映亮了她瘦削的臉頰和疲憊的灰色眼睛。

5點鐘，所有女孩都離開了教室。我從椅子上爬下來，坐在了地上。我再也不覺得堅強和平靜了，開始放聲大哭。我曾渴望在洛伍德交朋友，做好孩子，得到表揚，現在誰也不會再相信我，可能也不會再跟我說話了。我以後還能開始新生活嗎？

“永遠不能！”我喊道。“我真希望自己死了！”正在這時海倫來了，給我拿了咖啡和麵包。我難過得不想吃，也不想喝，但她陪我坐了一會兒，輕聲跟我說話，給我擦眼淚，幫助我恢復常態。丹伯爾小姐來找我時，看到我們倆正靜靜地坐在一起。

“到我房間裡來，倆人都來。”她說。

我們來到她樓上溫暖、舒適的房間。

“簡，現在跟我說實話。”她說。“你受到指責，必須有機會為自己辯護。”

於是我向她講述了我在裡德家度過的孤獨的童年，以及在紅房子裡的可怕經歷。

“我認識你生病時去看你的洛依德先生。”她說。“我會寫信給他，看他是否同意你的說法。如果他同意，我將公開告訴全校，你沒撒謊。簡，現在我相信你了。”她吻了我，然後轉向海倫。

“海倫，你今晚怎麼樣？今天咳得厲害嗎？”

“不厲害，太太。”

“胸口還疼嗎？”

“我覺得好點兒了。”

丹伯爾小姐端詳著海倫，嘆了口氣。然後她讓我們喝茶，吃烤麵包片。一時間我覺得自己到了天堂，在溫暖、漂亮的房子裡，和善良的丹伯爾小姐還有海倫一起又吃又喝。

但是當我們到教室時，斯蓋查德小姐正在檢查抽屜。

“伯恩斯！”她說。“你的抽屜太亂了！明天一天，你必須在腦門上貼上一個字——亂！”

海倫說斯蓋查德小姐一點兒沒錯，第二天果然貼上了字條。但是，我氣憤極了，傍晚，我把字條從她頭上揪下來，扔進了火裡。

丹伯爾小姐收到了洛依德醫生的回信，同意我說的是實情。於是她向全校宣佈我被錯怪了，我不是個撒謊的人。從那一刻起，我覺得自己被接受了，開始努力學習，廣交朋友。