[00:00.04] Chapter 6.
[00:02.18] Helen.
[00:04.74] The next morning, the washing water was frozen.
[00:08.98] The porridge was edible, but the portions tiny.
[00:15.30] All the classes met in the same school room with different lessons taking place.
[00:20.97] Although I was put into the youngest group, I found the lessons hard, and I was glad when, in the afternoon, I was given a piece of sewing to do.
[00:32.43] Helen Burns was in a different class, but I could hear her teacher, Miss Scatcherd, calling her name all the time.
[00:42.68] Burns, hold your head up.
[00:47.07] Burns, tuck in your chin.
[00:53.93] When the girls had to answer questions, it seemed to me that Helen was the only one who had understood the lesson.
[01:03.16] But Miss Scatcherd still scolded her.
[01:07.99] You dirty, disagreeable girl.
[01:16.62] Why have you not cleaned your nails?
[01:24.46] Helen never said a word to defend herself, even when Miss Scatcherd sent her to fetch a little bundle of twigs called the rod.
[01:35.30] She curtsied, then stood quietly still while, to my horror, Miss Scatcherd whipped her across the neck with that vicious little rod.
[01:46.14] My fingers shook with anger so that I could not go on sewing.
[01:53.60] That evening, I talked to Helen.
[01:59.28] Why is Miss Scatcherd so cruel to you? I said.
[02:04.74] Not cruel, she said simply.
[02:08.70] She is trying to correct me.
[02:14.81] If she struck me with that rod, I should take it and break it under her nose, I said.
[02:24.41] If you did, you would be expelled.
[02:29.13] It really is best to endure patiently.
[02:37.46] I am untidy and careless as she says, so I suppose I deserve it.
[02:45.90] Besides, the Bible says we should love our enemies and be good to those who hate us.
[02:57.22] If I did that, I would have to love my cousin John and Aunt Reed, I said, and that would be impossible.
[03:10.48] I told her all about Gateshead Hall.
[03:15.79] I agree, she has been cruel to you, she said.
[03:22.92] But nursing your anger has not made you any happier.
[03:29.25] Life is too short for that, Jane.
[03:33.71] Life is short and heaven is forever.
[03:40.68] That is the thing I look forward to, Jane.
[03:45.77] Heaven.
[03:51.98] She became very quiet and dreamy after this, until one of the monitors, a great rough girl, came and ordered her to tidy her drawer.
[04:05.85] She obeyed at once, without a word.