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orst fault; a tendency to deceit。 i mention this in your hearing; jane; that you may not attempt to impose on mr。 brocklehurst。”
well might i dread; well might i dislike mrs。 reed; for it was her nature to wound me cruelly; never was i happy in her presence; however carefully i obeyed; however strenuously i strove to please her; my efforts were still repulsed and repaid by such sentences as the above。 now; uttered before a stranger; the accusation cut me to the heart; i dimly perceived that she was already obliterating hope from the new phase of existence which she destined me to enter; i felt; though i could not have expressed the feeling; that she was sowing aversion and unkindness along my future path; i saw myself transformed under mr。 brocklehurst’s eye into an artful; noxious child; and what could i do to remedy the injury?
“nothing; indeed;” thought i; as i struggled to repress a sob; and hastily wiped away some tears; the impotent evidences of my anguish。
“deceit is; indeed; a sad fault in a child;” said mr。 brocklehurst; “it is akin to falsehood; and all liars will have their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone; she shall; however; be watched; mrs。 reed。 i will speak to miss temple and the teachers。”
“i should wish her to be brought up in a manner suiting her prospects;” continued my benefactress; “to be made useful; to be kept humble: as for the vacations; she will; with your permission; spend them always at lowood。”
“your decisions are perfectly judicious; madam;” returned mr。 brocklehurst。 “humility is a christian grace; and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of lowood; i; therefore; direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them。 i have studied how best to mortify in them the worldly sentiment of pride; and; only the other day; i had a pleasing proof of my success。 my second daughter; augusta; went with her mama to visit the school; and on her return she exclaimed: ‘oh; dear papa; how quiet and plain all the girls at lowood look; with their hair bed behind their ears; and their long pinafores; and those little holland pockets outside their frocks—they are almost like poor people’s children! and;’ said she; ‘they looked at my dress and mama’s; as if they had never seen a silk gown before。’”
“this is the state of things i quite approve;” returned mrs。 reed; “had i sought all england over; i could scarcely have found a system more exactly fitting a child like jane eyre。 consistency; my dear mr。 brocklehurst; i advocate consistency in all things。”
“consistency; madam; is the first of christian duties; and it has been observed in every arrangement connected with the establishment of lowood: plain fare; simple attire; unsophisticated acmodations; hardy and active habits; such is the order of the day in the house and its inhabitants。”
“quite right; sir。 i may then depend upon this child being received as a pupil at lowood; and there being trained in conformity to her position and prospects?”
“madam; you may: she shall be placed in that nursery of chosen plants; and i trust she will show herself grateful for the inestimable privilege of her election。”
“i will send her; then; as soon as possible; mr。 brocklehurst; for; i assure you; i feel anxious to be relieved of a responsibility that was being too irksome。”
“no doubt; no doubt; madam; and now i wish you good morning。 i shall return to brocklehurst hall in the course of a week or two: my good friend; the archdeacon; will not permit me to leave him sooner。 i shall send miss temple notice that she is to expect a new girl; so that there will he no difficulty about receiving her。 good…bye。”
“good…bye; mr。 brocklehurst; remember me to mrs。 and miss brocklehurst; and to augusta and theodore; and master broughton brocklehurst。”
“i will; madam。 little girl; here is a book entitled the child’s guide; read it with prayer; especially that part containing ‘an account of the awfully sudden death of martha g —; a naughty child addicted to falsehood and deceit。’”
with these words mr。 brocklehurst put into my hand a thin pamphlet sewn in a cover; and having rung for his carriage; he departed。
mrs。 reed and i were left alone: some minutes passed in silence; she was sewing; i was watching her。 mrs。 reed might be at that time some six or seven and thirty; she was a woman of robust frame; square…shouldered and strong…limbed; not tall; and; though stout; not obese: she had a somewhat large face; the under jaw being much developed and very solid; her brow was low; her chin large and prominent; mouth and nose sufficiently regular; under her light eyebrows glimmered an eye devoid of ruth; her skin was dark and opaque; her hair nearly flaxen; her constitution was sound as a bell—illness never came near her; she was an exact; clever manager; her household and tenantry were thoroughly under her control; her children only at times defied her authority and laughed it to scorn; she dressed well; and had a presence and port calculated to set off handsome attire。
sitting on a low stool; a few yards from her arm…chair; i examined her figure; i perused her features。 in my hand i held the tract containing the sudden death of the liar; to which narrative my attention had been pointed as to an appropriate warning。 what had just passed; what mrs。 reed had said concerning me to mr。 brocklehurst; the whole tenor of their conversation; was recent; raw; and stinging in my mind; i had felt every word as acutely as i had heard it plainly; and a passion of resentment fomented now within me。
mrs。 reed looked up from her work; her eye settled on mine; her fingers at the same time suspended their nimble movements。
“go out of the room; return to the nursery;” was her mandate。 my look or something else must have struck her as offensive; for she spoke with extreme though suppressed irritation。 i got up; i went to the door; i came back again; i walked to the window; across the room; then close up to her。
speak i must: i had been trodden on severely; and must turn: but how? what strength had i to dart retaliation at my antagonist? i gathered my energies and launched the