Lowood School
   There were about eighty girls in the schoolroom, divided into four classes. The oldest girls were in the fourth class, and the youngest were in the first class. I was in the first class.
   All four classes had their lessons in the same large and very cold schoolroom. We had to sit there quietly, not saying a word, until the teachers came into the room together. The lessons-Math, History,French-were not at all interesting, and always followed the same pattern. First, we read some pages in a book and
then our teacher asked us questions. I tried to listen, but I soon got bored .
   After four hours, there was a lunch break, and we all went outside. Because it was winter, it was very
cold. Very soon, a bell rang, and lessons started again.
   Three weeks passed. One afternoon, the head teacher, whose name was Miss Temple, came into the
schoolroom. Mr. Brocklehurst was with her, and we all stood up as they entered. I stood behind an older
girl because I did not want Mr. Brocklehurst to see me.
   Mr. Brocklehurst walked slowly round the room. Everybody was very quiet. I closed my eyes and
wished he would leave. My hands started to shake, and I dropped my book.
   Mr. Brocklehurst stopped walking and looked straight at me.
   "Ah! The new girl," he said. "Come here, Jane Eyre!" Then he pointed at two of the older girls. "You two girls-put Jane Eyre on that high chair!" he said.
   "Look at Jane Eyre, everybody!" Mr. Brocklehurst said. "This child is bad. She will be punished! Miss
Temple! Teachers! Girls Do not talk to this child."
   Then he spoke to me again. "Jane Eyre, you must stand on that chair for two hours," he said. "You are a bad girl!"
   That evening, as I cried and cried alone, Miss Temple saw me. She came to me and held my hand. She was very kind.
   "You are a good pupil, Jane," she said. "And you are not a bad girl. I am your friend."
   "Thank you, Miss Temple," I said.