太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > jane eyre(简·爱) >

第13节

jane eyre(简·爱)-第13节

小说: jane eyre(简·爱) 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



attitude;' etc。 etc。 
   A chapter having been read through twice; the books were closed and 
the girls examined。 The lesson had comprised part of the reign of 
Charles I; and there were sundry questions about tonnage and 
poundage and ship…money; which most of them appeared unable to answer; 
still; every little difficulty was solved instantly when it reached 
Burns: her memory seemed to have retained the substance of the whole 
lesson; and she was ready with answers on every point。 I kept 
expecting that Miss Scatcherd would praise her attention; but; instead 
of that; she suddenly cried out… 
   'You dirty; disagreeable girl! you have never cleaned your nails 
this morning!' 
   Burns made no answer: I wondered at her silence。 
   'Why;' thought I; 'does she not explain that she could neither 
clean her nails nor wash her face; as the water was frozen?' 
   My attention was now called off by Miss Smith desiring me to hold a 
skein of thread: while she was winding it; she talked to me from 
time to time; asking whether I had ever been at school before; whether 
I could mark; stitch; knit; etc。; till she dismissed me; I could not 
pursue my observations on Miss Scatcherd's movements。 When I 
returned to my seat; that lady was just delivering an order of which I 
did not catch the import; but Burns immediately left the class; and 
going into the small inner room where the books were kept; returned in 
half a minute; carrying in her hand a bundle of twigs tied together at 
one end。 This ominous tool she presented to Miss Scatcherd with a 
respectful curtsey; then she quietly; and without being told; unloosed 
her pinafore; and the teacher instantly and sharply inflicted on her 
neck a dozen strokes with the bunch of twigs。 Not a tear rose to 
Burns's eye; and; while I paused from my sewing; because my fingers 
quivered at this spectacle with a sentiment of unavailing and impotent 
anger; not a feature of her pensive face altered its ordinary 
expression。 
   'Hardened girl!' exclaimed Miss Scatcherd; 'nothing can correct you 
of your slatternly habits: carry the rod away。' 
   Burns obeyed: I looked at her narrowly as she emerged from the 
book…closet; she was just putting back her handkerchief into her 
pocket; and the trace of a tear glistened on her thin cheek。 
   The play…hour in the evening I thought the pleasantest fraction 
of the day at Lowood: the bit of bread; the draught of coffee 
swallowed at five o'clock had revived vitality; if it had not 
satisfied hunger: the long restraint of the day was slackened; the 
schoolroom felt warmer than in the morning… its fires being allowed to 
burn a little more brightly; to supply; in some measure; the place 
of candles; not yet introduced: the ruddy gloaming; the licensed 
uproar; the confusion of many voices gave one a welcome sense of 
liberty。 
   On the evening of the day on which I had seen Miss Scatcherd flog 
her pupil; Burns; I wandered as usual among the forms and tables and 
laughing groups without a companion; yet not feeling lonely: when I 
passed the windows; I now and then lifted a blind; and looked out; 
it snowed fast; a drift was already forming against the lower panes; 
putting my ear close to the window; I could distinguish from the 
gleeful tumult within; the disconsolate moan of the wind outside。 
   Probably; if I had lately left a good home and kind parents; this 
would have been the hour when I should most keenly have regretted 
the separation; that wind would then have saddened my heart; this 
obscure chaos would have disturbed my peace! as it was; I derived from 
both a strange excitement; and reckless and feverish; I wished the 
wind to howl more wildly; the gloom to deepen to darkness; and the 
confusion to rise to clamour。 
   Jumping over forms; and creeping under tables; I made my way to one 
of the fire…places; there; kneeling by the high wire fender; I found 
Burns; absorbed; silent; abstracted from all round her by the 
companionship of a book; which she read by the dim glare of the 
embers。 
   'Is it still Rasselas?' I asked; coming behind her。 
   'Yes;' she said; 'and I have just finished it。' 
   And in five minutes more she shut it up。 I was glad of this。 
   'Now;' thought I; 'I can perhaps get her to talk。' I sat down by 
her on the floor。 
   'What is your name besides Burns?' 
   'Helen。' 
   'Do you come a long way from here?' 
   'I come from a place farther north; quite on the borders of 
Scotland。' 
   'Will you ever go back?' 
   'I hope so; but nobody can be sure of the future。' 
   'You must wish to leave Lowood?' 
   'No! why should I? I was sent to Lowood to get an education; and it 
would be of no use going away until I have attained that object。' 
   'But that teacher; Miss Scatcherd; is so cruel to you?' 
   'Cruel? Not at all! She is severe: she dislikes my faults。' 
   'And if I were in your place I should dislike her; I should 
resist her。 If she struck me with that rod; I should get it from her 
hand; I should break it under her nose。' 
   'Probably you would do nothing of the sort: but if you did; Mr。 
Brocklehurst would expel you from the school; that would be a great 
grief to your relations。 It is far better to endure patiently a 
smart which nobody feels but yourself; than to commit a hasty action 
whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you; and 
besides; the Bible bids us return good for evil。' 
   'But then it seems disgraceful to be flogged; and to be sent to 
stand in the middle of a room full of people; and you are such a great 
girl: I am far younger than you; and I could not bear it。' 
   'Yet it would be your duty to bear it; if you could not avoid it: 
it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be 
required to bear。' 
   I heard her with wonder: I could not comprehend this doctrine of 
endurance; and still less could I understand or sympathise with the 
forbearance she expressed for her chastiser。 Still I felt that Helen 
Burns considered things by a light invisible to my eyes。 I suspected 
she might be right and I wrong; but I would not ponder the matter 
deeply; like Felix; I put it off to a more convenient season。 
   'You say you have faults; Helen: what are they? To me you seem very 
good。' 
   'Then learn from me; not to judge by appearances: I am; as Miss 
Scatcherd said; slatternly; I seldom put; and never keep; things in 
order; I am careless; I forget rules; I read when I should learn my 
lessons; I have no method; and sometimes I say; like you; I cannot 
bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements。 This is all very 
provoking to Miss Scatcherd; who is naturally neat; punctual; and 
particular。' 
   'And cross and cruel;' I added; but Helen Burns would not admit 
my addition: she kept silence。 
   'Is Miss Temple as severe to you as Miss Scatcherd?' 
   At the utterance of Miss Temple's name; a soft smile flitted over 
her grave face。 
   'Miss Temple is full of goodness; it pains her to be severe to 
any one; even the worst in the school: she sees my errors; and tells 
me of them gently; and if I do anything worthy of praise; she gives me 
my meed liberally。 One strong proof of my wretchedly defective 
nature is; that even her expostulations; so mild; so rational; have no 
influence to cure me of my faults; and even her praise; though I value 
it most highly; cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight。' 
   'That is curious;' said I; 'it is so easy to be careful。' 
   'For you I have no doubt it is。 I observed you in your class this 
morning; and saw you were closely attentive: your thoughts never 
seemed to wander while Miss Miller explained the lesson and questioned 
you。 Now; mine continually rove away; when I should be listening to 
Miss Scatcherd; and collecting all she says with assiduity; often I 
lose the very sound of her voice; I fall into a sort of dream。 
Sometimes I think I am in Northumberland; and that the noises I hear 
round me are the bubbling of a little brook which runs through 
Deepden; near our house;… then; when it comes to my turn to reply; I 
have to be awakened; and having heard nothing of what was read for 
listening to the visionary brook; I have no answer ready。' 
   'Yet how well you replied this afternoon。' 
   'It was mere chance; the subject on which we had been reading had 
interested me。 This afternoon; instead of dreaming of Deepden; I was 
wondering how a man who wished to do right could act so unjustly and 
unwisely as Charles the First sometimes did; and I thought what a pity 
it was that; with his integrity and conscientiousness; he could see no 
farther than the prerogatives of the crown。 If he had but been able to 
look to a distance; and see how what they call the spirit of the age 
was tending! Still; I like Charles… I respect him… I pity him; poor 
murdered king! Yes; his enemies were the worst: they shed blood they 
had no right to shed。 How dared they kill him!' 
   Helen was talking to herself now: she had forgotten I could not 
very well understand her… that I was ignorant; or nearly so; of the 
subject she discussed。 I recalled her to my level。 
   'And

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的