第9部分(第3/8 頁)

e　darkness　I　fell　asleep。

The　night　passed　rapidly。　I　was　too　tired　even　to　dream；　I　only　once　awoke　to　hear　the　wind　rave　in　furious　gusts；　and　the　rain　fall　in　torrents；　and　to　be　sensible　that　Miss　Miller　had　taken　her　place　by　my　side。　When　I　again　unclosed　my　eyes；　a　loud　bell　was　ringing；　the　girls　were　up　and　dressing；　day　had　not　yet　begun　to　dawn；　and　a　rushlight　or　two　burned　in　the　room。　I　too　rose　reluctantly；　it　was　bitter　cold；　and　I　dressed　as　well　as　I　could　for　shivering；　and　washed　when　there　was　a　basin　at　liberty；　which　did　not　occur　soon；　as　there　was　but　one　basin　to　six　girls；　on　the　stands　down　the　middle　of　the　room。　Again　the　bell　rang：　all　formed　in　file；　two　and　two；　and　in　that　order　descended　the　stairs　and　entered　the　cold　and　dimly　lit　schoolroom：　here　prayers　were　read　by　Miss　Miller；　afterwards　she　called　out—

“Form　classes！”

A　great　tumult　succeeded　for　some　minutes；　during　which　Miss　Miller　repeatedly　exclaimed；　“Silence！”　and　“Order！”　When　it　subsided；　I　saw　them　all　drawn　up　in　four　semicircles；　before　four　chairs；　placed　at　the　four　tables；　all　held　books　in　their　hands；　and　a　great　book；　like　a　Bible；　lay　on　each　table；　before　the　vacant　seat。　A　pause　of　some　seconds　succeeded；　filled　up　by　the　low；　vague　hum　of　numbers；　Miss　Miller　walked　from　class　to　class；　hushing　this　indefinite　sound。

A　distant　bell　tinkled：　immediately　three　ladies　entered　the　room；　each　walked　to　a　table　and　took　her　seat。　Miss　Miller