簡愛英文原版

簡愛英文原版

JaneEyre

CHAPTERI

Therewasnopossibilityoftakingawalkthatday.Wehadbeenwandering,indeed,intheleaflessshrubberyanhourinthemorning;butsincedinner(Mrs.Reed,whentherewasnocompany,dinedearly)thecoldwinterwindshadbroughtwiththemcloudssosombre,andarainsopenetrating,thatfurtheroutdoorexercisewasnowoutofthequestion.

Iwasgladofit:Ineverlikedlongwalks,especiallyonchillyafternoons:dreadfultomewasthecominghomeintherawtwilight,withnippedfingersandtoes,andaheartsaddenedbythechidingsofBessie,thenurse,andhumbledbytheconsciousnessofmyphysicalinferioritytoEliza,John,andGeorgianaReed.

ThesaidEliza,John,andGeorgianawerenowclusteredroundtheirmammainthedrawing-room:shelayreclinedonasofabythefireside,andwithherdarlingsabouther(forthetimeneitherquarrellingnorcrying)lookedperfectlyhappy.Me,shehaddispensedfromjoiningthegroup;saying,``Sheregrettedtobeunderthenecessityofkeepingmeatadistance;butthatuntilsheheardfromBessie,andcoulddiscoverbyherownobservationthatIwasendeavouringingoodearnesttoacquireamoresociableandchildlikedisposition,amoreattractiveandsprightlymanner--somethinglighter,franker,morenatural,asitwere--shereallymustexcludemefromprivilegesintendedonlyforcontented,happy,littlechildren.''

``WhatdoesBessiesayIhavedone?''Iasked.

``Jane,Idon'tlikecavillersorquestioners:besides,thereissomethingtrulyforbiddinginachildtakinguphereldersinthatmanner.Beseatedsomewhere;anduntilyoucanspeakpleasantly,remainsilent.''

Abreakfast-roomadjoinedthedrawing-room,Islippedinthere.Itcontainedabookcase:Isoonpossessedmyselfofavolume,takingcarethatitshouldbeonestoredwithpictures.Imountedintothewindow-seat:gatheringupmyfeet,Isatcross-legged,likeaTurk;and,havingdrawntheredmoreencurtainnearlyclose,Iwasshrinedindoubleretirement.

Foldsofscarletdraperyshutinmyviewtotherighthand;totheleftweretheclearpanesofglass,protecting,butnotseparatingmefromthedrearNovemberday.Atintervals,whileturningovertheleavesofmybook,Istudiedtheaspectofthatwinterafternoon.Afar,itofferedapaleblankofmistandcloud;nearasceneofwetlawnandstorm-beatshrub,withceaselessrainsweepingawaywildlybeforealongandlamentableblast.

Ireturnedtomybook--Bewick'sHistoryofBritishBirds:theletterpressthereofIcaredlittlefor,generallyspeaking;andyettherewerecertainintroductorypagesthat,childasIwas,Icouldnotpassquiteasablank.Theywerethosewhichtreatofthehauntsofsea-fowl;of``thesolitaryrocksandpromontories''bythemonlyinhabited;ofthecoastofNorway,studdedwithislesfromitssouthernextremity,theLindeness,orNaze,totheNorthCape--

WheretheNorthernOcean,invastwhirls,

Boilsroundthenaked,melancholyisles

OffarthestThule;andtheAtlanticsurge

PoursinamongthestormyHebrides.

NorcouldIresistthestrangefascinationoftheirlowvoice,andtheirbentform,andsombrecostume;fromthepallidhueoftheirfaces,andtheslow,limpinggaitoftheinvalidamongthem,tothegutturalsoundsoftheirspeech,andtheirfrequentprescriptionofRhinewine.

Theirairofstern,menacing,authoritywasenoughtostrikefearintotheheartsofmostmen,butnot,itseemed,theNorsemenatthedinnertable.

``Wheredidyougetthatbook?''myauntasked,herthumbtracingthecover.

``Iboughtitsecond-hand,''Ianswered.

``Didyoufinditinteresting?''sheasked.

``Yes,Aunt.''

``Whatdidyoureadabout?''

``Aboutsea-fowl,Aunt.Aboutthesolitaryrocksandpromontories''

``Andwhataboutthepeoplewholivearoundthosesolitaryrocksandpromontories?''shecontinued.

``Idon'tknow,Aunt.Ihaveneverseenthem,''Ireplied.

``Well,you'llneverreaditagain,''shesaid,andtossedthebookintothefire.

Itookanotherbookfromtheshelf,alargevolumeboundinleatherwithgiltpages.ItwasaplaybyShakespeare,andIbeganreading.IwassoabsorbedthatIdidnotregistertheconversationhappeningaroundme.Itwasn'tuntilahandslappeddownontheopenpageofthebookthatIrealizedsomethingwasamiss.

``Whatisthatyouarereading?''Mrs.Reeddemanded,ratherperemptorily.

``Iamreadingabook,AuntReed.''

``Whatbook?Youhavenobusinesstotakeourbooks;youareadependent,Mamasays;youhavenomoney;yourfatherleftyounone;yououghttobeg,andnottoliveherewithgentlemen'schildrenlikeus,andeatthesamemealswedo,andwearclothesatourMama'sexpense.Now,I'llteachyoutorummagemybookshelves:fortheyaremine;allthehousebelongstome,orwilldoinafewyears.Goandstandbythedoor,outofthewayofthemirrorandwindows.''

IdidasIwasbid,thoughIwouldhavepreferredtostay,andlistenedwithinteresttotheconversation.

``Takeherawaytothered-room,andlockherinthere.''Fourhandswereimmediatelylaiduponme,andIwasborneupstairs.

Thechamberlookedsuchabrightlittleplacetomeasthesunshoneinbetweenthegaybluechintzwindowcurtains,showingpaperedwallsandacarpetedfloor,sounlikethebareplankedfloorandwhite-washedwallsofmyoldroom.Therewasabedsteadwithwhitehangings,onwhichlayagreysquirrelfurcoverlet;asmalltableandafewchairs,twoofwhichboretheimpressofdeepindentations,asifatsometimefir