Chapter-3
After covering fifty miles, Jane Eyre, at last, reached Lowood school. A servant led her through a passage into a room with a fire and left her alone there. After some time, Miss Temple, the Superintendent of Lowood school, came into the room. She said to Jane, “You look tired a little bit. You had better go to bed.” Saying these words she sent for Miss Miller who looked after all the children at Lowood school.
Soon, Miss Miller came over there. Miss Temple said to Miss Miller, “She is Jane Eyre. She is a new entrant to Lowood school. Take care of her too.” Miss Temple went away from there. She might be about twenty-nine whereas Miss Miller appeared some years younger. Miss Miller was the first lady who impressed Jane Eyre by her voice, looks and airs.
She was more ordinary; ruddy in complexion, though of a careworn countenance; hurried in gait and action, like one who had always a multiplicity of tasks on hand. She looked, indeed, what Jane Eyre found she really was an under-teacher. Jane Eyre along with Miss Miller walked through compartments and passages. Jane Eyre came across a lot of girls who were chattering a lot. They were of different ages ranging from nine to twenty.
Jane Eyre entered a wide, long room with a great deal of tables, two at each end, on each of which burnt a pair of candles. Seen by the dim light of the dips, the girls’ number to Jane Eyre appeared countless, though not in reality exceeding eighty.
All the girls were uniformly dressed in brown stuff frocks of quaint fashion, and long holland pinafores. It was the hour of study; they were engaged in conning over their tomorrow’s task. The hum which Jane Eyre had heard was the combined result of their whispered repetitions.
Miss Miller signalled to Jane Eyre to sit on a bench near the door. Walking up to the top of the long room she cried out, “Monitors! collect the lesson-books and put them away.” Four tall girls got up from different tables. Going round, they gathered the books and removed them.
Miss Miller again gave the word of command, “Monitors! fetch the supper-trays.” The tall girls went out and returned, each bearing a tray with portions of something, arranged thereon, and a pitcher of water and a mug in the middle of each tray. The portions were handed round; those who liked took a draught of the water, the mug being common to all. When it came to Jane Eyre’s turn, she drank, for she was thirsty, but did not touch the food. Excitement and fatigue rendered her incapable of eating.
After the meal was over, Miss Miller said the prayers and all the students returned to their respective rooms for sleeping at night. Jane Eyre shared the bed with Miss Miller. There were two girls sleeping on each bed. As Jane Eyre was dead tired, she fell asleep amidst silence and complete darkness.
The night passed rapidly. Jane Eyre was too tired even to dream. She only once woke up to hear the wind rave in furious gusts, and the rain fall in torrents. When she again unclosed her eyes, a loud bell was ringing; the girls were up and dressing. Day had not yet begun to dawn. A rushlight or two burned in the room. Jane Eyre rose reluctantly; it was bitter cold. She dressed herself 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. In that order, they descended the stairs and entered the cold and dimly school room. Prayers were read by Miss Miller.
Afterwards, she called out, “Dear students! form classes.” A great tumult succeeded for some minutes, during which Miss Miller repeatedly exclaimed, “Silence! Order!” When it subsided, Jane Eyre saw them all drawn up in four semi-circles before four chains, 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.
There was a noisy discussion in the classroom. All of a sudden, there was a pin-drop silence. Miss Temple walked into the room to teach the girls Geography. The lessons were over after an hour or so. Miss Temple went away. All the girls came out of the classroom. Jane Eyre went towards the garden of Lowood school. There, she saw a house. The door of the house had an inscription—”Lowood school was rebuilt by Naomi Brocklehurst. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in Heaven.”
Jane read these words time and again till a cough made her turn her head. All of a sudden, she chanced to see a girl sitting on a bench. She made friends with her. Jane Eyre came to learn from that girl that it was partly a charity school. Most of the girls were orphans. Mr Brocklehurst was the treasurer and manager of Lowood school. Miss Temple was answerable to him for everything she did. The friends and relatives of the orphan girls at school paid fifteen pounds per year for their wards’ education. But it was not enough. The school was funded mostly by rich ladies and gentlemen of that area.
Jane and the girl talked for several minutes. The girl like Jane was an orphan. Soon the ball rang. It was for lunch. All the students rushed towards the dining room. They finished their meals quickly. After lunch, it was time for the students to go back to their respective classes. Lessons commenced and continued till five o’ clock.
