A great tumult succeeded for some minutes，during which Miss Miller repeatedly exclaimed，"Silence!" and "Order!" When it subsided，I saw them all drawn up in four semicircles，before four chairs，placed at the four tables; all held books in their hands，and a great book，like a Bible，lay on each table，before the vacant seat. A pause of some seconds succeeded，filled up by the low，vague hum of numbers; Miss Miller walked from class to class，hushing this indefinite sound.

A distant bell tinkled: immediately three ladies entered the room，each walked to a table and took her seat; Miss Miller assumed the fourth vacant chair，which was that nearest the door，and around which the smallest of the children were assembled: to this inferior class I was called，and placed at the bottom of it.

Business now began: the day"s Collect was repeated，then certain texts of Scripture were said，and to these succeeded a protracted reading of chapters in the Bible，which lasted an hour. By the time that exercise was terminated，day had fully dawned. The indefatigable bell now sounded for the fourth time: the classes were marshalled and marched into another room to breakfast: how glad I was to behold a prospect of getting something to eat! I was now nearly sick from inanition，having taken so little the day before.

The refectory was a great，low-ceiled，gloomy room; on two long tables smoked basins of something hot，which，however，to my dismay，sent forth an odour far from inviting. I saw a universal manifestation of discontent when the fumes of the repast met the nostrils of those destined to swallow it; from the van of the procession，the tall girls of the first class，rose the whispered words- "Disgusting! The porridge is burnt again!"

"Silence!" ejaculated a voice; not that of Miss Miller，but one of the upper teachers，a little and dark personage，smartly dressed，but of somewhat morose aspect，who installed herself at the top of one table，while a more buxom lady presided at the other. I looked in vain for her I had first seen the night before; she was not visible: Miss Miller occupied the foot of the table where I sat，and a strange，foreign-looking，elderly lady，the French teacher，as I afterwards found，took the corresponding seat at the other board. A long grace was said and a hymn sung; then a servant brought in some tea for the teachers，and the meal began.