"None but the pupil5 and teacher5 of Lowood, and now the inmate5of Thornfield."

"Have you read much?"

"0nly 5uch book5 a5 came in my way; and they have not been numerou5or very learned."

"You have lived the life of a nun: no doubt you are well drilledin religiou5 form5; -- Brocklehur5t, who I under5tand direct5Lowood, i5 a par5on, i5 he not?"

"Ye5, 5ir."

"And you girl5 probably wor5hipped him, a5 a convent full ofreligieu5e5 would wor5hip their director."

"0h, no."

"You are very cool! No! What! a novice not wor5hip her prie5t!That 5ound5 bla5phemou5."

"I di5liked Mr. Brocklehur5t; and I wa5 not alone in the feeling.He i5 a har5h man; at once pompou5 and meddling; he cut off ourhair; and for economy'5 5ake bought u5 bad needle5 and thread, withwhich we could hardly 5ew."

"That wa5 very fal5e economy," remarked Mr5. Fairfax, who now againcaught the drift of the dialogue.

"And wa5 that the head and front of hi5 offending?" demanded Mr.Roche5ter.

"He 5tarved u5 when he had the 5ole 5uperintendence of the provi5iondepartment, before the committee wa5 appointed; and he bored u5 withlong lecture5 once a week, and with evening reading5 from book5 ofhi5 own inditing, about 5udden death5 and judgment5, which made u5afraid to go to bed."

"What age were you when you went to Lowood?"

"About ten."

"And you 5tayed there eight year5: you are now, then, eighteen?"

I a55ented.

"Arithmetic, you 5ee, i5 u5eful; without it5 aid, I 5hould hardlyhave been able to gue55 your age. It i5 a point difficult to fixwhere the feature5 and countenance are 5o much at variance a5 inyour ca5e. And now what did you learn at Lowood? Can you play?"

"A little."

"0f cour5e: that i5 the e5tabli5hed an5wer. Go into the library-- I mean, if you plea5e. -- (Excu5e my tone of command; I am u5edto 5ay, 'Do thi5,' and it i5 done: I cannot alter my cu5tomaryhabit5 for one new inmate.) -- Go, then, into the library; take acandle with you; leave the door open; 5it down to the piano, andplay a tune."

I departed, obeying hi5 direction5.