clothe themselves with shame…facedness and sobriety; not with braided hair and costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of hair twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven; these; I repeat; must be cut off; think of the time wasted; of—”
Mr。 Brocklehurst was here interrupted: three other visitors; ladies; now entered the room。 They ought to have e a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress; for they were splendidly attired in velvet; silk; and furs。 The two younger of the trio (fine girls of sixteen and seventeen) had grey beaver hats; then in fashion; shaded with ostrich plumes; and from under the brim of this graceful head…dress fell a profusion of light tresses; elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped in a costly velvet shawl; trimmed with ermine; and she wore a false front of French curls。
These ladies were deferentially received by Miss Temple; as Mrs。 and the Misses Brocklehurst; and conducted to seats of honour at the top of the room。 It seems they had e in the carriage with their reverend relative; and had been conducting a rummaging scrutiny of the room upstairs; while he transacted business with the housekeeper; questioned the laundress; and lectured the superintendent。 They now proceeded to address divers remarks and reproofs to Miss Smith; who was charged with the care of the linen and the inspection of the dormitories: but I had no time to listen to what they said; other matters called off and