第11部分(第5/8 頁)

s　my　faults。”

“And　if　I　were　in　your　place　I　should　dislike　her；　I　should　resist　her。　If　she　struck　me　with　that　rod；　I　should　get　it　from　her　hand；　I　should　break　it　under　her　nose。”

“Probably　you　would　do　nothing　of　the　sort：　but　if　you　did；　Mr。　Brocklehurst　would　expel　you　from　the　school；　that　would　be　a　great　grief　to　your　relations。　It　is　far　better　to　endure　patiently　a　smart　which　nobody　feels　but　yourself；　than　to　mit　a　hasty　action　whose　evil　consequences　will　extend　to　all　connected　with　you；　and　besides；　the　Bible　bids　us　return　good　for　evil。”

“But　then　it　seems　disgraceful　to　be　flogged；　and　to　be　sent　to　stand　in　the　middle　of　a　room　full　of　people；　and　you　are　such　a　great　girl：　I　am　far　younger　than　you；　and　I　could　not　bear　it。”

“Yet　it　would　be　your　duty　to　bear　it；　if　you　could　not　avoid　it：　it　is　weak　and　silly　to　say　you　cannot　bear　what　it　is　your　fate　to　be　required　to　bear。”

I　heard　her　with　wonder：　I　could　not　prehend　this　doctrine　of　endurance；　and　still　less　could　I　understand　or　sympathise　with　the　forbearance　she　expressed　for　her　chastiser。　Still　I　felt　that　Helen　Burns　considered　things　by　a　light　invisible　to　my　eyes。　I　suspected　she　might　be　right　and　I　wrong；　but　I　would　not　ponder　the　matter　deeply；　like　Felix；　I　put　it　off　to　a　more　convenient　season。

“You　say　you　have　faults；　Helen：　what　are　they？　To　me　you　seem　very　good。”

“Then　learn　from　me；　not　to　judge　by　appearances：　I　am；　as　Miss　Sca