第9部分(第2/8 頁)

　their　to…　morrow’s　task；　and　the　hum　I　had　heard　was　the　bined　result　of　their　whispered　repetitions。

Miss　Miller　signed　to　me　to　sit　on　a　bench　near　the　door；　then　walking　up　to　the　top　of　the　long　room　she　cried　out—

“Monitors；　collect　the　lesson…books　and　put　them　away！　Four　tall　girls　arose　from　different　tables；　and　going　round；　gathered　the　books　and　removed　them。　Miss　Miller　again　gave　the　word　of　mand—

“Monitors；　fetch　the　supper…trays！”

The　tall　girls　went　out　and　returned　presently；　each　bearing　a　tray；　with　portions　of　something；　I　knew　not　what；　arranged　thereon；　and　a　pitcher　of　water　and　mug　in　the　middle　of　each　tray。　The　portions　were　handed　round；　those　who　liked　took　a　draught　of　the　water；　the　mug　being　mon　to　all。　When　it　came　to　my　turn；　I　drank；　for　I　was　thirsty；　but　did　not　touch　the　food；　excitement　and　fatigue　rendering　me　incapable　of　eating：　I　now　saw；　however；　that　it　was　a　thin　oaten　cake　shared　into　fragments。

The　meal　over；　prayers　were　read　by　Miss　Miller；　and　the　classes　filed　off；　two　and　two；　upstairs。　Overpowered　by　this　time　with　weariness；　I　scarcely　noticed　what　sort　of　a　place　the　bedroom　was；　except　that；　like　the　schoolroom；　I　saw　it　was　very　long。　To…night　I　was　to　be　Miss　Miller’s　bed…fellow；　she　helped　me　to　undress：　when　laid　down　I　glanced　at　the　long　rows　of　beds；　each　of　which　was　quickly　filled　with　two　occupants；　in　ten　minutes　the　single　light　was　extinguished；　and　amidst　silence　and　plet