第13部分(第1/7 頁)

ast　fortnight。　How　is　this？　I　looked　over　the　regulations；　and　I　find　no　such　meal　as　lunch　mentioned。　Who　introduced　this　innovation？　and　by　what　authority？”

“I　must　be　responsible　for　the　circumstance；　sir；”　replied　Miss　Temple：　“the　breakfast　was　so　ill　prepared　that　the　pupils　could　not　possibly　eat　it；　and　I　dared　not　allow　them　to　remain　fasting　till　dinner…time。”

“Madam；　allow　me　an　instant。　You　are　aware　that　my　plan　in　bringing　up　these　girls　is；　not　to　accustom　them　to　habits　of　luxury　and　indulgence；　but　to　render　them　hardy；　patient；　self…denying。　Should　any　little　accidental　disappointment　of　the　appetite　occur；　such　as　the　spoiling　of　a　meal；　the　under　or　the　over　dressing　of　a　dish；　the　incident　ought　not　to　be　neutralised　by　replacing　with　something　more　delicate　the　fort　lost；　thus　pampering　the　body　and　obviating　the　aim　of　this　institution；　it　ought　to　be　improved　to　the　spiritual　edification　of　the　pupils；　by　encouraging　them　to　evince　fortitude　under　temporary　privation。　A　brief　address　on　those　occasions　would　not　be　mistimed；　wherein　a　judicious　instructor　would　take　the　opportunity　of　referring　to　the　sufferings　of　the　primitive　Christians；　to　the　torments　of　martyrs；　to　the　exhortations　of　our　blessed　Lord　Himself；　calling　upon　His　disciples　to　take　up　their　cross　and　follow　Him；　to　His　warnings　that　man　shall　not　live　by　bread　alone；　but　by　every　word　that　proceedeth　out　of　the　mouth　of　God；　to　His　divine　consolations；　“If　ye　suffer　hunger　or　thirst　for　My　sake；　happy　are　ye。”　Oh；　madam；　when　you　put　bread　and　cheese；　instead　of　burnt　porridge；　into　these　children’s　mouths；　you　may　indeed　feed　their　vile　bodies；　but　you　little　think　how　you　starve　their　immortal　souls！”

Mr。　Brocklehurst　again　paused—perhaps　overe　by　his