agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第23节
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your rough； awkward manners。'
'Oh； stuff！ Harry Meltham likes such manners； and so do papa's
friends。'
'Well； you MAY captivate old men； and younger sons； but nobody else；
I am sure； will ever take a fancy to you。'
'I don't care： I'm not always grabbing after money； like you and
mamma。 If my husband is able to keep a few good horses and dogs； I
shall be quite satisfied； and all the rest may go to the devil！'
'Well； if you use such shocking expressions； I'm sure no real gentleman
will ever venture to come near you。 Really； Miss Grey； you should not
let her do so。'
'I can't possibly prevent it； Miss Murray。'
'And you're quite mistaken； Matilda； in supposing that Harry Meltham
admires you： I assure you he does nothing of the kind。'
Matilda was beginning an angry reply； but； happily； our journey was
now at an end； and the contention was cut short by the footman opening
the carriage…door； and letting down the steps for our descent。
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CHAPTER XI … THE
COTTAGERS
AS I had now only one regular pupil … though she contrived to give me
as much trouble as three or four ordinary ones； and though her sister still
took lessons in German and drawing … I had considerably more time at my
own disposal than I had ever been blessed with before； since I had taken
upon me the governess's yoke； which time I devoted partly to
correspondence with my friends； partly to reading； study； and the practice
of music； singing； &c。； partly to wandering in the grounds or adjacent
fields； with my pupils if they wanted me； alone if they did not。
Often； when they had no more agreeable occupation at hand； the
Misses Murray would amuse themselves with visiting the poor cottagers
on their father's estate； to receive their flattering homage； or to hear the old
stories or gossiping news of the garrulous old women； or； perhaps； to
enjoy the purer pleasure of making the poor people happy with their
cheering presence and their occasional gifts； so easily bestowed； so
thankfully received。 Sometimes； I was called upon to accompany one or
both of the sisters in these visits； and sometimes I was desired to go alone；
to fulfil some promise which they had been more ready to make than to
perform； to carry some small donation； or read to one who was sick or
seriously disposed： and thus I made a few acquaintances among the
cottagers； and； occasionally； I went to see them on my own account。
I generally had more satisfaction in going alone than with either of the
young ladies； for they； chiefly owing to their defective education；
comported themselves towards their inferiors in a manner that was highly
disagreeable for me to witness。 They never； in thought； exchanged places
with them； and； consequently； had no consideration for their feelings；
regarding them as an order of beings entirely different from themselves。
They would watch the poor creatures at their meals； making uncivil
remarks about their food； and their manner of eating； they would laugh at
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their simple notions and provincial expressions； till some of them scarcely
durst venture to speak； they would call the grave elderly men and women
old fools and silly old blockheads to their faces： and all this without
meaning to offend。 I could see that the people were often hurt and
annoyed by such conduct； though their fear of the 'grand ladies' prevented
them from testifying any resentment； but THEY never perceived it。 They
thought that； as these cottagers were poor and untaught； they must be
stupid and brutish； and as long as they； their superiors； condescended to
talk to them； and to give them shillings and half…crowns； or articles of
clothing； they had a right to amuse themselves； even at their expense； and
the people must adore them as angels of light； condescending to minister
to their necessities； and enlighten their humble dwellings。
I made many and various attempts to deliver my pupils from these
delusive notions without alarming their pride … which was easily offended；
and not soon appeased … but with little apparent result； and I know not
which was the more reprehensible of the two： Matilda was more rude and
boisterous； but from Rosalie's womanly age and lady…like exterior better
things were expected： yet she was as provokingly careless and
inconsiderate as a giddy child of twelve。
One bright day in the last week of February； I was walking in the park；
enjoying the threefold luxury of solitude； a book； and pleasant weather； for
Miss Matilda had set out on her daily ride； and Miss Murray was gone in
the carriage with her mamma to pay some morning calls。 But it struck
me that I ought to leave these selfish pleasures； and the park with its
glorious canopy of bright blue sky； the west wind sounding through its yet
leafless branches； the snow…wreaths still lingering in its hollows； but
melting fast beneath the sun； and the graceful deer browsing on its moist
herbage already assuming the freshness and verdure of spring … and go to
the cottage of one Nancy Brown； a widow； whose son was at work all day
in the fields； and who was afflicted with an inflammation in the eyes；
which had for some time incapacitated her from reading： to her own
great grief； for she was a woman of a serious； thoughtful turn of mind。 I
accordingly went； and found her alone； as usual； in her little； close； dark
cottage； redolent of smoke and confined air； but as tidy and clean as she
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could make it。 She was seated beside her little fire （consisting of a few
red cinders and a bit of stick）； busily knitting； with a small sackcloth
cushion at her feet； placed for the accommodation of her gentle friend the
cat； who was seated thereon； with her long tail half encircling her velvet
paws； and her half…closed eyes dreamily gazing on the low； crooked
fender。
'Well； Nancy； how are you to…day？'
'Why； middling； Miss； i' myseln … my eyes is no better； but I'm a deal
easier i' my mind nor I have been；' replied she； rising to welcome me with
a contented smile； which I was glad to see； for Nancy had been somewhat
afflicted with religious melancholy。 I congratulated her upon the change。
She agreed that it was a great blessing； and expressed herself 'right down
thankful for it'； adding； 'If it please God to spare my sight； and make me so
as I can read my Bible again； I think I shall be as happy as a queen。'
'I hope He will； Nancy；' replied I； 'and； meantime； I'll come and read to
you now and then； when I have a little time to spare。'
With expressions of grateful pleasure； the poor woman moved to get
me a chair； but； as I saved her the trouble； she busied herself with stirring
the fire； and adding a few more sticks to the decaying embers； and then；
taking her well…used Bible from the shelf； dusted it carefully； and gave it
me。 On my asking if there was any particular part she should like me to
read； she answered …
'Well； Miss Grey； if it's all the same to you； I should like to hear that
chapter in the First Epistle of St。 John； that says； 〃God is love； and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God； and God in him。〃'
With a little searching； I found these words in the fourth chapter。 When
I came to the seventh verse she interrupted me； and； with needless
apologies for such a liberty； desired me to read it very slowly； that she
might take it all in； and dwell on every word； hoping I would excuse her；
as she was but a 'simple body。'
'The wisest person；' I replied； 'might think over each of these verses for
an hour； and be all the better for it； and I would rather read them slowly
than not。'
Accordingly； I finis
