acting irritation I endured from this cause every evening; when my feet inflamed; and the torture of thrusting the swelled; raw; and stiff toes into my shoes in the morning。 Then the scanty supply of food was distressing: with the keen appetites of growing children; we had scarcely sufficient to keep alive a delicate invalid。 From this deficiency of nourishment resulted an abuse; which pressed hardly on the younger pupils: whenever the famished great girls had an opportunity; they would coax or menace the little ones out of their portion。 Many a time I have shared between two claimants the precious morsel of brown bread distributed at tea…time; and after relinquishing to a third half the contents of my mug of coffee; I have swallowed the remainder with an acpaniment of secret tears; forced from me by the exigency of hunger。
Sundays were dreary days in that wintry season。 We had to walk two miles to Brocklebridge Church; where our patron officiated。 We set out cold; we arrived at church colder: during the morning service we became almost paralysed。 It was too far to return to dinner; and an allowance of cold meat and bread; in the same penurious proportion observed in our ordinary meals; was served round between the services。
At the close of the afternoon service we returned by an exposed and hilly road; where the bitter winter wind; blowing over a range of snowy summits to the north; almost flayed the skin from our faces。
I can remember Miss Temple walkin