Chapter 8
Erethehalf-hourended,fiveo’clockstruck;schoolwasdismissed,andallweregootherefectorytotea.Iuredtodesd:itwasdeepdusk;Iretiredintoaerandsatdownonthefloor.ThespellbywhichIhadbeensofarsupportedbegantodissolve;reatookpladsoon,sooverwhelmingwasthegriefthatseizedme,Isankprostratewithmyfacetotheground.NowIwept:HelenBurnswasnothere;nothingsustainedme;lefttomyselfIabandonedmyself,andmytearswateredtheboards.Ihadmeanttobesogood,andtodosomuchatLowood:tomakesomanyfriends,toearnrespedwiion.AlreadyIhadmadevisibleprogress:thatverymIhadreachedtheheadofmyclass;MissMillerhadpraisedmewarmly;MissTemplehadsmiledapprobation;shehadpromisedtoteachmedrawing,andtoletmelearnFrench,ifItiomakesimilarimprovementtwomonthslonger:andthenIwaswellreceivedbymyfellow-pupils;treatedasanequalbythoseofmyownage,andnotmolestedbyany;now,hereIlayagaincrushedandtroddenon;andcouldIeverrisemore?
“Never,”Ithought;andardentlyIwishedtodie.Whilesobbingoutthiswishinbrokes,someoneapproached:Istartedup—againHelenBurnswasnearme;thefadingfiresjustshowedheringupthelong,vatroom;shebroughtmycoffeeandbread.
“e,eatsomething,”shesaid;butIputbothawayfromme,feelingasifadroporacrumbwouldhaveeinmypresentdition.Helenregardedme,probablywithsurprise:Icouldnotnowabatemyagitation,thoughItriedhard;Itioweepaloud.Shesatdownonthegroundnearme,embracedherkhherarms,aedherheaduponthem;inthatattitudesheremainedsilentasanIndian.Iwasthefirstwhospoke—
“Helen,whydoyoustaywithagirlwhomeverybodybelievestobealiar?”
“Everybody,Jane?Why,thereareoypeoplewhohaveheardyoucalledso,andtheworldtainshundredsofmillions.”
“ButwhathaveItodowithmillions?Theeighty,Iknow,despiseme.”
“Jane,youaremistaken:probablynotoheschooleitherdespisesordislikesyou:many,Iamsure,pityyoumuch.”
“HowtheypitymeafterwhatMr.Brocklehursthassaid?”
“Mr.Brocklehurstisnotagod:norisheeveandadmiredman:heislittlelikedhere;heookstepstomakehimselfliked.Hadhetreatedyouasanespecialfavourite,youwouldhavefoundenemies,declaredorcovert,allaroundyou;asitis,thegreaternumberwouldofferyousympathyiftheydared.Teachersandpupilsmaylookcoldlyonyouforadayortwo,butfriendlyfeelingsarecealedintheirhearts;andifyoupersevereindoihesefeelingswillerelongappearsomuchthemoreevidentlyfortheirtemporarysuppression.Besides,Jane”—shepaused.
“Well,Helen?”saidI,puttingmyhandintohers:shechafedmyfingersgentlytowarmthem,aon—
“Ifalltheworldhatedyou,andbelievedyouwicked,whileyourownsceapprovedyou,andabsolvedyuilt,youwouldhoutfriends.”
“No;IknowIshouldthinkwellofmyself;butthatisnotenough:ifothersdon’tlovemeIwouldratherdiethanlive—Iotbeartobesolitaryandhated,Helen.Lookhere;togainsomerealaffefromyou,orMissTemple,oranyotherwhomItrulylove,Iwouldwillinglysubmittohavetheboneofmyarmbroken,ortoletabulltossme,ortostandbehindakighorse,adashitshoofatmychest—”
“Hush,Jane!youthinktoomuchoftheloveofhumanbeings;youaretooimpulsive,toovehement;thesnhandthatcreatedyourframe,andputlifeintoit,hasprovidedyouwithotherresourcesthanyourfeebleself,orthauresfeebleasyou.Besidesthisearth,andbesidestheraen,thereisaninvisibleworldandakingdomofspirits:thatworldisroundus,foritiseverywhere;andthosespiritswatchus,fortheyareissiooguardus;andifweweredyinginpainandshame,ifsoteusonallsides,andhatredcrushedus,angelsseeourtortures,reiseourinnoce(ifiwebe:asIknowyouareofthischargewhichMr.Brocklehursthasweaklyandpompouslyrepeatedatsed-handfromMrs.Reed;forIreadasiureinyourardenteyesandonyourclearfront),andGodwaitsonlytheseparationofspiritfromfleshtouswithafullreward.Why,then,shouldweeversinkoverwhelmedwithdistress,whenlifeissosoonover,ahissocertairaohappioglory?”
Iwassilent;Helenhadcalmedme;butiranquillitysheimpartedtherewasanalloyofinexpressiblesadness.Ifelttheimpressionofwoeasshespoke,butIcouldnottellwhecame;andwhen,havingdonespeaking,shebreathedalittlefastandcoughedashortcough,Imomentarilyfotmyownsorrowstoyieldtoavagueforher.
RestingmyheadonHelen’sshoulder,Iputmyarmsroundherwaist;shedrewmetoher,andwereposedinsilence.Wehadnotsatlongthus,whenanotherpersoncamein.Someheavyclouds,sweptfromtheskybyarisingwind,hadleftthemoonbare;andherlight,streaminginthroughawindownear,shonefullbothonusandontheapproagfigure,whichweatnisedasMissTemple.
“Icameonpurposetofindyou,JaneEyre,”saidshe;“Iwantyouinmyroom;andasHelenBurnsiswithyou,shemayetoo.”
Wewent;followingthesuperinte’sguidance,wehadtothreadsomeintricatepassages,andmountastaircasebeforewereachedherapartment;ittainedagoodfire,andlookedcheerful.MissTempletoldHelenBurnstobeseatedinalowarm-chairononesideofthehearth,andherselftakinganother,shecalledmetoherside.
“Isitallover?”sheasked,lookingdownatmyface.“Haveyoucriedyriefaway?”
“IamafraidInevershalldothat.”
“Why?”
“BecauseIhavebeenwronglyaccused;andyou,ma’am,andeverybodyelse,willnowthinkmewicked.”
“Weshallthinkyouwhatyouproveyourselftobe,mychild.tioactasagoodgirl,andyouwillsatisfyus.”
“ShallI,MissTemple?”
“Youwill,”saidshe,passingherarmroundme.“AndnowtellmewhoistheladywhomMr.Brocklehurstcalledyourberess?”
“Mrs.Reed,myuncle’swife.Myuncleisdead,ametohercare.”
“Didshenot,then,adoptyouofherownaccord?”
“No,ma’am;shewassorrytohavetodoit:butmyuncle,asIhaveofteheservantssay,gothertopromisebeforehediedthatshewouldalwayskeepme.”
“Wellnow,Jane,youknow,oratleastIwilltellyou,thatwhenacriminalisaccused,heisalwaysallowedtospeakinhisowndefence.Youhavebeenchargedwithfalsehood;defendyourselftomeaswellasyou.Saywhateveryourmemgestsistrue;butaddnothingandexaggeratenothing.”
Iresolved,ihofmyheart,thatIwouldbemostmoderate—mostcorred,havingreflectedafewminutesiecoherentlywhatIhadtosay,Itoldherallthestoryofmysadchildhood.Exhaustedbyemotion,mylanguagewasmoresubduedthanitgenerallywaswhenitdevelopedthatsadtheme;andmindfulofHelen’swarningsagainsttheindulgenceofrese,Iiothenarrativefarlessofgallandwormwoodthanordinary.Thusrestrainedandsimplified,itsoundedmorecredible:IfeltasIwentonthatMissTemplefullybelievedme.
InthecourseofthetaleIhadmentionedMr.Lloydashavingetoseemeafterthefit:forIneverfotthe,tome,frightfulepisodeofthered-room:iailingwhich,myexcitementwassure,insomedegree,tobreakbounds;fornothingcouldsofteninmyrecollethespasmofagonywhichclutchedmyheartwhenMrs.Reedspurnedmywildsupplicationforpardon,andlockedmeasedtimeinthedarkandhauntedchamber.
Ihadfinished:MissTempleregardedmeafewminutesinsilence;shethensaid—
“IknowsomethingofMr.Lloyd;Ishallwritetohim;ifhisreplyagreeswithyourstatement,youshallbepubliclyclearedfromeveryimputation;tome,Jane,youareclearnow.”
Shekissedme,andstillkeepiherside(whereIwaswellteostand,forIderivedachild’spleasurefromtheplationofherface,herdress,herowoors,herwhiteforehead,herclusteredandshiningcurls,andbeamingdarkeyes),sheproceededtoaddressHelenBurns.
“Howareyouto-night,Helen?Haveyoucoughedmuchto-day?”
“Notquitesomuch,Ithink,ma’am.”
“Andthepaininyourchest?”
“Itisalittlebetter.”
MissTemplegotup,tookherhandandexaminedherpulse;theuroherow:assheresumedit,Iheardhersighlow.Sheensiveafewmihenrousingherself,shesaidcheerfully—
“Butyoutwoaremyvisitorsto-night;Imusttreatyouassuch.”Sherangherbell.
“Barbara,”shesaidtotheservantwhoansweredit,“Ihavehadtea;brirayandplacecupsforthesetwoyoungladies.”
Andatraywassht.Howpretty,tomyeyes,didtheacupsandbrightteapotlook,plathelittleroundtablehefire!Hrantwasthesteamofthebeverage,andthestofthetoast!ofwhich,however,I,tomydismay(forIwasbeginningtobehungry)disedonlyaverysmallportion:MissTempledisedittoo.
“Barbara,”saidshe,“younalittlemorebreadandbutter?Thereisnotenoughforthree.”
Barbarawentout:shereturnedsoon—
“Madam,Mrs.Hardensaysshehassentuptheusualquantity.”
Mrs.Hardeobserved,wasthehousekeeper:awomanafterMr.Brocklehurst’sow,madeupofequalpartsofwhaleboneandiron.
“Oh,verywell!”returnedMissTemple;“wemustmakeitdo,Barbara,Isuppose.”Andasthegirlwithdrewsheadded,smiling,“Fortunately,Ihaveitinmypowertosupplydeficiesforthisonce.”
HavinginvitedHelenaoapproachthetable,andplacedbeforeeachofusacupofteawithonedeliciousbutthinmorseloftoast,shegotup,unlockedadrawer,andtakingfromitaparceledinpaper,disclosedpresentlytooureyesagood-sizedseed-cake.
“Imeanttogiveeachofyousomeofthistotakewithyou,”saidshe,“butasthereissolittletoast,youmusthaveitnow,”andsheproceededtocutsliceswithageneroushand.
Wefeastedthateveningasoarandambrosia;andnottheleastdelightoftheeaiwasthesmileofgratificationwithwhichourhostessregardedus,aswesatisfiedourfamishedappetitesonthedelicatefaresheliberallysupplied.
Teaoverarayremoved,sheagainsummoothefire;wesatoneoneachsideofher,andnowaversationfollowedbetweenherandHelen,whichitwasindeedaprivilegetobeadmittedtohear.
MissTemplehadalwayssomethingofserenityinherair,ofstateinhermien,ofrefinedproprietyinherlanguage,whichprecludeddeviationintotheardent,theexcited,theeager:somethingwhichchastehepleasureofthosewholookedonherandlisteoher,byatrollingsenseofawe;andsuchwasmyfeelingnow:butastoHelenBurns,Iwasstruckwithwonder.
Therefreshihebrilliantfire,thepresendkindnessofherbelovedinstructress,or,perhaps,morethanallthese,somethinginherownuniquemind,hadrousedherpowerswithiheywoke,theykindled:first,theyglowedinthebrighttintofhercheek,whichtillthishourIhadneverseenbutpaleandbloodless;thentheyshoheliquidlustreofhereyes,whichhadsuddenlyacquiredabeautymoresingularthanthatofMissTemple’s—abeautyheroffinecolourneyelash,norpencilledbrow,butofmeaning,ofmovement,ofradiahenhersoulsatonherlips,andlanguageflowed,fromwhatsourceIottell.Hasagirloffourteelargeenough,vigorousenough,toholdtheswellingspringofpure,full,fervideloquence?SuchwasthecharacteristicofHelen’sdiscourseonthat,tome,memorableevening;herspiritseemedhasteningtolivewithinaverybriefspanasmuchasmanyliveduringaprotractedexistence.
TheyversedofthingsIhadneverheardof;ofnationsandtimespast;oftriesfaraway;ofsecretsofnaturediscovereduessedat:theyspokeofbooks:howmanytheyhadread!Whatstoresofkheypossessed!ThentheyseemedsofamiliarwithFrenamesandFrenchauthors:butmyamazementreacheditsclimaxwhenMissTempleaskedHelenifshesometimessnatchedamomenttorecalltheLatiherhadtaughther,andtakingabookfromashelf,badeherreadandstrueapageil;andHelenobeyed,myanofveionexpandingateverysoundingline.Shehadscarcelyfinishederethebellannouncedbedtime!nodelaycouldbeadmitted;MissTempleembracedusboth,saying,asshedrewustoherheart—
“Godblessyou,mychildren!”
Helensheheldalittlelohanme:shelethergomorerelutly;itwasHelenhereyefollowedtothedoor;itwasforhersheasedtimebreathedasadsigh;forhershewipedatearfromhercheek.
Onreagthebedroom,weheardthevoiissScatcherd:shewasexaminingdrawers;shehadjustpulledoutHelenBurns’s,andwheeredHelenwasgreetedwithasharpreprimand,andtoldthatto-morrowsheshouldhavehalf-a-dozenofuntidilyfoldedarticlespiohershoulder.
“Mythingswereindeedinshamefuldisorder,”murmuredHelentome,inalowvoice:“Iinteohavearrahem,butIfot.”
m,MissScatcherdwroteinspicuouscharactersonapieceofpasteboardtheword“Slattern,”andbounditlikeaphylacteryroundHelen’slarge,mild,intelligent,andbenign-lookingforehead.Sheworeittillevening,patient,uful,regardingitasadeservedpunishment.ThemomentMissScatcherdwithdrewafterafternoonschool,IrantoHelen,toreitoff,andthrustitintothefire:thefuryofwhichshewasincapablehadbeenburninginmysoulallday,andtears,hotandlarge,hadtinuallybeenscaldingmycheek;forthespectacleofhersadresignationgavemeanintolerablepainattheheart.
Aboutaweeksubsequentlytotheisabovenarrated,MissTemple,whohadwrittentoMr.Lloyd,receivedhisaappearedthatwhathesaidwenttocorroboratemyat.MissTemple,havingassembledthewholeschool,annouhatinquiryhadbeeothechargesallegedagainstJaneEyre,andthatshewasmosthappytobeabletopronounceherpletelyclearedfromeveryimputatioeachersthenshookhandswithmeandkissedme,andamurmurofpleasureranthroughtheranksofmypanions.
Thusrelievedofagrievousload,Ifromthathoursettoworkafresh,resolvedtopioneermywaythrougheverydifficulty:Itoiledhard,andmysuccessroportioomyefforts;mymemory,notnaturallytenacious,improvedwithpractice;exercisesharpenedmywits;inafewweeksIromotedtoahigherclass;ihantwomonthsIwasallowedtoenceFrenddrawing.Ilearhefirsttwoteheverbetre,achedmyfirstcottage(whosewalls,by-the-bye,outrivalledinslopethoseoftheleaningtowerofPisa),onthesameday.Thatnight,ongoingtobed,IfottoprepareinimaginationtheBarmecidesupperofhotroastpotatoes,orwhitebreadandnewmilk,withwhichIwaswonttoamusemyinwardcravings:Ifeastedinsteadonthespectacleofidealdrawings,whichIsawinthedark;alltheworkofmyownhands:freelypencilledhousesandtrees,picturesquerodruins,Cuyp-likegroupsofcattle,sweetpaintingsofbutterflieshoverunblownroses,ofbirdspigatripecherries,ofwresenclosingpearl-likeeggs,wreathedaboutwithyoungivysprays.Iexamioo,inthought,thepossibilityofmyeverbeingabletotranslatecurrentlyacertainlittleFrenchstorywhichMadamePierrothadthatdayshownme;norwasthatproblemsolvedtomysatisfaereIfellsweetlyasleep.
WellhasSolomonsaid—“Betterisadinnerofherbswhereloveis,thanastalledoxandhatredtherewith.”
IwouldnotnowhaveexgedLowoodwithallitsprivationsfatesheadanditsdailyluxuries.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
“Never,”Ithought;andardentlyIwishedtodie.Whilesobbingoutthiswishinbrokes,someoneapproached:Istartedup—againHelenBurnswasnearme;thefadingfiresjustshowedheringupthelong,vatroom;shebroughtmycoffeeandbread.
“e,eatsomething,”shesaid;butIputbothawayfromme,feelingasifadroporacrumbwouldhaveeinmypresentdition.Helenregardedme,probablywithsurprise:Icouldnotnowabatemyagitation,thoughItriedhard;Itioweepaloud.Shesatdownonthegroundnearme,embracedherkhherarms,aedherheaduponthem;inthatattitudesheremainedsilentasanIndian.Iwasthefirstwhospoke—
“Helen,whydoyoustaywithagirlwhomeverybodybelievestobealiar?”
“Everybody,Jane?Why,thereareoypeoplewhohaveheardyoucalledso,andtheworldtainshundredsofmillions.”
“ButwhathaveItodowithmillions?Theeighty,Iknow,despiseme.”
“Jane,youaremistaken:probablynotoheschooleitherdespisesordislikesyou:many,Iamsure,pityyoumuch.”
“HowtheypitymeafterwhatMr.Brocklehursthassaid?”
“Mr.Brocklehurstisnotagod:norisheeveandadmiredman:heislittlelikedhere;heookstepstomakehimselfliked.Hadhetreatedyouasanespecialfavourite,youwouldhavefoundenemies,declaredorcovert,allaroundyou;asitis,thegreaternumberwouldofferyousympathyiftheydared.Teachersandpupilsmaylookcoldlyonyouforadayortwo,butfriendlyfeelingsarecealedintheirhearts;andifyoupersevereindoihesefeelingswillerelongappearsomuchthemoreevidentlyfortheirtemporarysuppression.Besides,Jane”—shepaused.
“Well,Helen?”saidI,puttingmyhandintohers:shechafedmyfingersgentlytowarmthem,aon—
“Ifalltheworldhatedyou,andbelievedyouwicked,whileyourownsceapprovedyou,andabsolvedyuilt,youwouldhoutfriends.”
“No;IknowIshouldthinkwellofmyself;butthatisnotenough:ifothersdon’tlovemeIwouldratherdiethanlive—Iotbeartobesolitaryandhated,Helen.Lookhere;togainsomerealaffefromyou,orMissTemple,oranyotherwhomItrulylove,Iwouldwillinglysubmittohavetheboneofmyarmbroken,ortoletabulltossme,ortostandbehindakighorse,adashitshoofatmychest—”
“Hush,Jane!youthinktoomuchoftheloveofhumanbeings;youaretooimpulsive,toovehement;thesnhandthatcreatedyourframe,andputlifeintoit,hasprovidedyouwithotherresourcesthanyourfeebleself,orthauresfeebleasyou.Besidesthisearth,andbesidestheraen,thereisaninvisibleworldandakingdomofspirits:thatworldisroundus,foritiseverywhere;andthosespiritswatchus,fortheyareissiooguardus;andifweweredyinginpainandshame,ifsoteusonallsides,andhatredcrushedus,angelsseeourtortures,reiseourinnoce(ifiwebe:asIknowyouareofthischargewhichMr.Brocklehursthasweaklyandpompouslyrepeatedatsed-handfromMrs.Reed;forIreadasiureinyourardenteyesandonyourclearfront),andGodwaitsonlytheseparationofspiritfromfleshtouswithafullreward.Why,then,shouldweeversinkoverwhelmedwithdistress,whenlifeissosoonover,ahissocertairaohappioglory?”
Iwassilent;Helenhadcalmedme;butiranquillitysheimpartedtherewasanalloyofinexpressiblesadness.Ifelttheimpressionofwoeasshespoke,butIcouldnottellwhecame;andwhen,havingdonespeaking,shebreathedalittlefastandcoughedashortcough,Imomentarilyfotmyownsorrowstoyieldtoavagueforher.
RestingmyheadonHelen’sshoulder,Iputmyarmsroundherwaist;shedrewmetoher,andwereposedinsilence.Wehadnotsatlongthus,whenanotherpersoncamein.Someheavyclouds,sweptfromtheskybyarisingwind,hadleftthemoonbare;andherlight,streaminginthroughawindownear,shonefullbothonusandontheapproagfigure,whichweatnisedasMissTemple.
“Icameonpurposetofindyou,JaneEyre,”saidshe;“Iwantyouinmyroom;andasHelenBurnsiswithyou,shemayetoo.”
Wewent;followingthesuperinte’sguidance,wehadtothreadsomeintricatepassages,andmountastaircasebeforewereachedherapartment;ittainedagoodfire,andlookedcheerful.MissTempletoldHelenBurnstobeseatedinalowarm-chairononesideofthehearth,andherselftakinganother,shecalledmetoherside.
“Isitallover?”sheasked,lookingdownatmyface.“Haveyoucriedyriefaway?”
“IamafraidInevershalldothat.”
“Why?”
“BecauseIhavebeenwronglyaccused;andyou,ma’am,andeverybodyelse,willnowthinkmewicked.”
“Weshallthinkyouwhatyouproveyourselftobe,mychild.tioactasagoodgirl,andyouwillsatisfyus.”
“ShallI,MissTemple?”
“Youwill,”saidshe,passingherarmroundme.“AndnowtellmewhoistheladywhomMr.Brocklehurstcalledyourberess?”
“Mrs.Reed,myuncle’swife.Myuncleisdead,ametohercare.”
“Didshenot,then,adoptyouofherownaccord?”
“No,ma’am;shewassorrytohavetodoit:butmyuncle,asIhaveofteheservantssay,gothertopromisebeforehediedthatshewouldalwayskeepme.”
“Wellnow,Jane,youknow,oratleastIwilltellyou,thatwhenacriminalisaccused,heisalwaysallowedtospeakinhisowndefence.Youhavebeenchargedwithfalsehood;defendyourselftomeaswellasyou.Saywhateveryourmemgestsistrue;butaddnothingandexaggeratenothing.”
Iresolved,ihofmyheart,thatIwouldbemostmoderate—mostcorred,havingreflectedafewminutesiecoherentlywhatIhadtosay,Itoldherallthestoryofmysadchildhood.Exhaustedbyemotion,mylanguagewasmoresubduedthanitgenerallywaswhenitdevelopedthatsadtheme;andmindfulofHelen’swarningsagainsttheindulgenceofrese,Iiothenarrativefarlessofgallandwormwoodthanordinary.Thusrestrainedandsimplified,itsoundedmorecredible:IfeltasIwentonthatMissTemplefullybelievedme.
InthecourseofthetaleIhadmentionedMr.Lloydashavingetoseemeafterthefit:forIneverfotthe,tome,frightfulepisodeofthered-room:iailingwhich,myexcitementwassure,insomedegree,tobreakbounds;fornothingcouldsofteninmyrecollethespasmofagonywhichclutchedmyheartwhenMrs.Reedspurnedmywildsupplicationforpardon,andlockedmeasedtimeinthedarkandhauntedchamber.
Ihadfinished:MissTempleregardedmeafewminutesinsilence;shethensaid—
“IknowsomethingofMr.Lloyd;Ishallwritetohim;ifhisreplyagreeswithyourstatement,youshallbepubliclyclearedfromeveryimputation;tome,Jane,youareclearnow.”
Shekissedme,andstillkeepiherside(whereIwaswellteostand,forIderivedachild’spleasurefromtheplationofherface,herdress,herowoors,herwhiteforehead,herclusteredandshiningcurls,andbeamingdarkeyes),sheproceededtoaddressHelenBurns.
“Howareyouto-night,Helen?Haveyoucoughedmuchto-day?”
“Notquitesomuch,Ithink,ma’am.”
“Andthepaininyourchest?”
“Itisalittlebetter.”
MissTemplegotup,tookherhandandexaminedherpulse;theuroherow:assheresumedit,Iheardhersighlow.Sheensiveafewmihenrousingherself,shesaidcheerfully—
“Butyoutwoaremyvisitorsto-night;Imusttreatyouassuch.”Sherangherbell.
“Barbara,”shesaidtotheservantwhoansweredit,“Ihavehadtea;brirayandplacecupsforthesetwoyoungladies.”
Andatraywassht.Howpretty,tomyeyes,didtheacupsandbrightteapotlook,plathelittleroundtablehefire!Hrantwasthesteamofthebeverage,andthestofthetoast!ofwhich,however,I,tomydismay(forIwasbeginningtobehungry)disedonlyaverysmallportion:MissTempledisedittoo.
“Barbara,”saidshe,“younalittlemorebreadandbutter?Thereisnotenoughforthree.”
Barbarawentout:shereturnedsoon—
“Madam,Mrs.Hardensaysshehassentuptheusualquantity.”
Mrs.Hardeobserved,wasthehousekeeper:awomanafterMr.Brocklehurst’sow,madeupofequalpartsofwhaleboneandiron.
“Oh,verywell!”returnedMissTemple;“wemustmakeitdo,Barbara,Isuppose.”Andasthegirlwithdrewsheadded,smiling,“Fortunately,Ihaveitinmypowertosupplydeficiesforthisonce.”
HavinginvitedHelenaoapproachthetable,andplacedbeforeeachofusacupofteawithonedeliciousbutthinmorseloftoast,shegotup,unlockedadrawer,andtakingfromitaparceledinpaper,disclosedpresentlytooureyesagood-sizedseed-cake.
“Imeanttogiveeachofyousomeofthistotakewithyou,”saidshe,“butasthereissolittletoast,youmusthaveitnow,”andsheproceededtocutsliceswithageneroushand.
Wefeastedthateveningasoarandambrosia;andnottheleastdelightoftheeaiwasthesmileofgratificationwithwhichourhostessregardedus,aswesatisfiedourfamishedappetitesonthedelicatefaresheliberallysupplied.
Teaoverarayremoved,sheagainsummoothefire;wesatoneoneachsideofher,andnowaversationfollowedbetweenherandHelen,whichitwasindeedaprivilegetobeadmittedtohear.
MissTemplehadalwayssomethingofserenityinherair,ofstateinhermien,ofrefinedproprietyinherlanguage,whichprecludeddeviationintotheardent,theexcited,theeager:somethingwhichchastehepleasureofthosewholookedonherandlisteoher,byatrollingsenseofawe;andsuchwasmyfeelingnow:butastoHelenBurns,Iwasstruckwithwonder.
Therefreshihebrilliantfire,thepresendkindnessofherbelovedinstructress,or,perhaps,morethanallthese,somethinginherownuniquemind,hadrousedherpowerswithiheywoke,theykindled:first,theyglowedinthebrighttintofhercheek,whichtillthishourIhadneverseenbutpaleandbloodless;thentheyshoheliquidlustreofhereyes,whichhadsuddenlyacquiredabeautymoresingularthanthatofMissTemple’s—abeautyheroffinecolourneyelash,norpencilledbrow,butofmeaning,ofmovement,ofradiahenhersoulsatonherlips,andlanguageflowed,fromwhatsourceIottell.Hasagirloffourteelargeenough,vigorousenough,toholdtheswellingspringofpure,full,fervideloquence?SuchwasthecharacteristicofHelen’sdiscourseonthat,tome,memorableevening;herspiritseemedhasteningtolivewithinaverybriefspanasmuchasmanyliveduringaprotractedexistence.
TheyversedofthingsIhadneverheardof;ofnationsandtimespast;oftriesfaraway;ofsecretsofnaturediscovereduessedat:theyspokeofbooks:howmanytheyhadread!Whatstoresofkheypossessed!ThentheyseemedsofamiliarwithFrenamesandFrenchauthors:butmyamazementreacheditsclimaxwhenMissTempleaskedHelenifshesometimessnatchedamomenttorecalltheLatiherhadtaughther,andtakingabookfromashelf,badeherreadandstrueapageil;andHelenobeyed,myanofveionexpandingateverysoundingline.Shehadscarcelyfinishederethebellannouncedbedtime!nodelaycouldbeadmitted;MissTempleembracedusboth,saying,asshedrewustoherheart—
“Godblessyou,mychildren!”
Helensheheldalittlelohanme:shelethergomorerelutly;itwasHelenhereyefollowedtothedoor;itwasforhersheasedtimebreathedasadsigh;forhershewipedatearfromhercheek.
Onreagthebedroom,weheardthevoiissScatcherd:shewasexaminingdrawers;shehadjustpulledoutHelenBurns’s,andwheeredHelenwasgreetedwithasharpreprimand,andtoldthatto-morrowsheshouldhavehalf-a-dozenofuntidilyfoldedarticlespiohershoulder.
“Mythingswereindeedinshamefuldisorder,”murmuredHelentome,inalowvoice:“Iinteohavearrahem,butIfot.”
m,MissScatcherdwroteinspicuouscharactersonapieceofpasteboardtheword“Slattern,”andbounditlikeaphylacteryroundHelen’slarge,mild,intelligent,andbenign-lookingforehead.Sheworeittillevening,patient,uful,regardingitasadeservedpunishment.ThemomentMissScatcherdwithdrewafterafternoonschool,IrantoHelen,toreitoff,andthrustitintothefire:thefuryofwhichshewasincapablehadbeenburninginmysoulallday,andtears,hotandlarge,hadtinuallybeenscaldingmycheek;forthespectacleofhersadresignationgavemeanintolerablepainattheheart.
Aboutaweeksubsequentlytotheisabovenarrated,MissTemple,whohadwrittentoMr.Lloyd,receivedhisaappearedthatwhathesaidwenttocorroboratemyat.MissTemple,havingassembledthewholeschool,annouhatinquiryhadbeeothechargesallegedagainstJaneEyre,andthatshewasmosthappytobeabletopronounceherpletelyclearedfromeveryimputatioeachersthenshookhandswithmeandkissedme,andamurmurofpleasureranthroughtheranksofmypanions.
Thusrelievedofagrievousload,Ifromthathoursettoworkafresh,resolvedtopioneermywaythrougheverydifficulty:Itoiledhard,andmysuccessroportioomyefforts;mymemory,notnaturallytenacious,improvedwithpractice;exercisesharpenedmywits;inafewweeksIromotedtoahigherclass;ihantwomonthsIwasallowedtoenceFrenddrawing.Ilearhefirsttwoteheverbetre,achedmyfirstcottage(whosewalls,by-the-bye,outrivalledinslopethoseoftheleaningtowerofPisa),onthesameday.Thatnight,ongoingtobed,IfottoprepareinimaginationtheBarmecidesupperofhotroastpotatoes,orwhitebreadandnewmilk,withwhichIwaswonttoamusemyinwardcravings:Ifeastedinsteadonthespectacleofidealdrawings,whichIsawinthedark;alltheworkofmyownhands:freelypencilledhousesandtrees,picturesquerodruins,Cuyp-likegroupsofcattle,sweetpaintingsofbutterflieshoverunblownroses,ofbirdspigatripecherries,ofwresenclosingpearl-likeeggs,wreathedaboutwithyoungivysprays.Iexamioo,inthought,thepossibilityofmyeverbeingabletotranslatecurrentlyacertainlittleFrenchstorywhichMadamePierrothadthatdayshownme;norwasthatproblemsolvedtomysatisfaereIfellsweetlyasleep.
WellhasSolomonsaid—“Betterisadinnerofherbswhereloveis,thanastalledoxandhatredtherewith.”
IwouldnotnowhaveexgedLowoodwithallitsprivationsfatesheadanditsdailyluxuries.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
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