gleam in overshadowed spots like scatterings of the sweetest lustre。 All this I enjoyed often and fully； free； unwatched； and almost alone： for this unwonted liberty and pleasure there was a cause； to which it now bees my task to advert。
Have I not described a pleasant site for a dwelling； when I speak of it as bosomed in hill and wood； and rising from the verge of a stream？ Assuredly； pleasant enough： but whether healthy or not is another question。
That forest…dell； where Lowood lay； was the cradle of fog and fog… bred pestilence； which； quickening with the quickening spring； crept into the Orphan Asylum； breathed typhus through its crowded schoolroom and dormitory； and； ere May arrived； transformed the seminary into an hospital。
Semi…starvation and neglected colds had predisposed most of the pupils to receive infection： forty…five out of the eighty girls lay ill at one time。 Classes were broken up； rules relaxed。 The few who continued well were allowed almost unlimited license； because the medical attendant insisted on the necessity of frequent exercise to keep them in health： and had it been otherwise； no one had leisure to watch or restrain them。 Miss Temple’s whole attention was absorbed by the patients： she lived in the sick…room； never quitting it except to snatch a few hours’ rest at night。 The teachers were fully occupied with packing up and making other necessary preparations for the departure of those girls who were fortunate enough to have friends and relations able and willing to remove them from the seat of contagion。 Many； already smitten； went home only to die： some died at the school； and were buried quietly and quickly； the nature of the malady forbidding delay。
While disease had thus bee an inhabitant of Lowood； and death i