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conference between Bessie and Abbot; I gathered enough of hope to 
suffice as a motive for wishing to get well: a change seemed near;… 
I desired and waited it in silence。 It tarried; however: days and 
weeks passed: I had regained my normal state of health; but no new 
allusion was made to the subject over which I brooded。 Mrs。 Reed 
surveyed me at times with a severe eye; but seldom addressed me: since 
my illness; she had drawn a more marked line of separation than ever 
between me and her own children; appointing me a small closet to sleep 
in by myself; condemning me to take my meals alone; and pass all my 
time in the nursery; while my cousins were constantly in the 
drawing…room。 Not a hint; however; did she drop about sending me to 
school: still I felt an instinctive certainty that she would not 
long endure me under the same roof with her; for her glance; now 
more than ever; when turned on me; expressed an insuperable and rooted 
aversion。 
   Eliza and Georgiana; evidently acting according to orders; spoke to 
me as little as possible: John thrust his tongue in his cheek whenever 
he saw me; and once attempted chastisement; but as I instantly 
turned against him; roused by the same sentiment of deep ire and 
desperate revolt which had stirred my corruption before; he thought it 
better to desist; and ran from me uttering execrations; and vowing I 
had burst his nose。 I had indeed levelled at that prominent feature as 
hard a blow as my knuckles could inflict; and when I saw that either 
that or my look daunted him; I had the greatest inclination to 
follow up my advantage to purpose; but he was already with his mama。 I 
heard him in a blubbering tone commence the tale of how 'that nasty 
Jane Eyre' had flown at him like a mad cat: he was stopped rather 
harshly… 
   'Don't talk to me about her; John: I told you not to go near her; 
she is not worthy of notice; I do not choose that either you or your 
sisters should associate with her。' 
   Here; leaning over the banister; I cried out suddenly; and 
without at all deliberating on my words… 
   'They are not fit to associate with me。' 
   Mrs。 Reed was rather a stout woman; but; on hearing this strange 
and audacious declaration; she ran nimbly up the stair; swept me 
like a whirlwind into the nursery; and crushing me down on the edge of 
my crib; dared me in an emphatic voice to rise from that place; or 
utter one syllable during the remainder of the day。 
   'What would Uncle Reed say to you; if he were alive?' was my 
scarcely voluntary demand。 I say scarcely voluntary; for it seemed 
as if my tongue pronounced words; without my will consenting to 
their utterance: something spoke out of me over which I had no 
control。 
   'What?' said Mrs。 Reed under her breath: her usually cold 
composed grey eye became troubled with a look like fear; she took 
her hand from my arm; and gazed at me as if she really did not know 
whether I were child or fiend。 I was now in for it。 
   'My Uncle Reed is in heaven; and can see all you do and think; 
and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long; 
and how you wish me dead。' 
   Mrs。 Reed soon rallied her spirits: she shook me most soundly; 
she boxed both my ears; and then left me without a word。 Bessie 
supplied the hiatus by a homily of an hour's length; in which she 
proved beyond a doubt that I was the most wicked and abandoned child 
ever reared under a roof。 I half believed her; for I felt indeed 
only bad feelings surging in my breast。 
   November; December; and half of January passed away。 Christmas 
and the New Year had been celebrated at Gateshead with the usual 
festive cheer; presents had been interchanged; dinners and evening 
parties given。 From every enjoyment I was; of course; excluded: my 
share of the gaiety consisted in witnessing the daily apparelling of 
Eliza and Georgiana; and seeing them descend to the drawing…room; 
dressed out in thin muslin frocks and scarlet sashes; with hair 
elaborately ringleted; and afterwards; in listening to the sound of 
the piano or the harp played below; to the passing to and fro of the 
butler and footman; to the jingling of glass and china as refreshments 
were handed; to the broken hum of conversation as the drawing…room 
door opened and closed。 When tired of this occupation; I would 
retire from the stair…head to the solitary and silent nursery: 
there; though somewhat sad; I was not miserable。 To speak truth; I had 
not the least wish to go into company; for in company I was very 
rarely noticed; and if Bessie had but been kind and companionable; I 
should have deemed it a treat to spend the evenings quietly with 
her; instead of passing them under the formidable eye of Mrs。 Reed; in 
a room full of ladies and gentlemen。 But Bessie; as soon as she had 
dressed her young ladies; used to take herself off to the lively 
regions of the kitchen and housekeeper's room; generally bearing the 
candle along with her。 I then sat with my doll on my knee till the 
fire got low; glancing round occasionally to make sure that nothing 
worse than myself haunted the shadowy room; and when the embers sank 
to a dull red; I undressed hastily; tugging at knots and strings as 
I best might; and sought shelter from cold and darkness in my crib。 To 
this crib I always took my doll; human beings must love something; 
and; in the dearth of worthier objects of affection; I contrived to 
find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image; 
shabby as a miniature scarecrow。 It puzzles me now to remember with 
what absurd sincerity I doated on this little toy; half fancying it 
alive and capable of sensation。 I could not sleep unless it was folded 
in my night…gown; and when it lay there safe and warm; I was 
comparatively happy; believing it to be happy likewise。 
   Long did the hours seem while I waited the departure of the 
company; and listened for the sound of Bessie's step on the stairs: 
sometimes she would come up in the interval to seek her thimble or her 
scissors; or perhaps to bring me something by way of supper… a bun 
or a cheese…cake… then she would sit on the bed while I ate it; and 
when I had finished; she would tuck the clothes round me; and twice 
she kissed me; and said; 'Good night; Miss Jane。' When thus gentle; 
Bessie seemed to me the best; prettiest; kindest being in the world; 
and I wished most intensely that she would always be so pleasant and 
amiable; and never push me about; or scold; or task me unreasonably; 
as she was too often wont to do。 Bessie; Lee must; I think; have 
been a girl of good natural capacity; for she was smart in all she 
did; and had a remarkable knack of narrative; so; at least; I judge 
from the impression made on me by her nursery tales。 She was pretty 
too; if my recollections of her face and person are correct。 I 
remember her as a slim young woman; with black hair; dark eyes; very 
nice features; and good; clear complexion; but she had a capricious 
and hasty temper; and indifferent ideas of principle or justice: 
still; such as she was; I preferred her to any one else at Gateshead 
Hall。 
   It was the fifteenth of January; about nine o'clock in the morning: 
Bessie was gone down to breakfast; my cousins had not yet been 
summoned to their mama; Eliza was putting on her bonnet and warm 
garden…coat to go and feed her poultry; an occupation of which she was 
fond: and not less so of selling the eggs to the housekeeper and 
hoarding up the money she thus obtained。 She had a turn for traffic; 
and a marked propensity for saving; shown not only in the vending of 
eggs and chickens; but also in driving hard bargains with the gardener 
about flower…roots; seeds; and slips of plants; that functionary 
having orders from Mrs。 Reed to buy of his young lady all the products 
of her parterre she wished to sell: and Eliza would have sold the hair 
off her head if she could have made a handsome profit thereby。 As to 
her money; she first secreted it in odd corners; wrapped in a rag or 
an old curl…paper; but some of these hoards having been discovered 
by the housemaid; Eliza; fearful of one day losing her valued 
treasure; consented to intrust it to her mother; at a usurious rate of 
interest… fifty or sixty per cent。; which interest she exacted every 
quarter; keeping her accounts in a little book with anxious accuracy。 
   Georgiana sat on a high stool; dressing her hair at the glass; 
and interweaving her curls with artificial flowers and faded feathers; 
of which she had found a store in a drawer in the attic。 I was 
making my bed; having received strict orders from Bessie to get it 
arranged before she returned; (for Bessie now frequently employed me 
as a sort of under…nurserymaid; to tidy the room; dust the chairs; 
etc。)。 Having spread the quilt and folded my night…dress; I went to 
the window…seat to put in order some picture…books and doll's house 
furniture scattered there; an abrupt command from Georgiana to let her 
playthings alone (for the tiny chairs and mirrors; the fairy plates 
and cups; were her property) stopped my proceedings; and then; for 
lack of other occupation; I fell t

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