第26页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第26页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
leaves, swept by past winds in heaps, and now stiffened together. I
leaned against a gate, and looked into an empty field where no sheep
were feeding, where the short grass was nipped and blanched. It was
a very grey day; a most opaque sky, 'onding on snaw,' canopied all;
thence flakes fell at intervals, which settled on the hard path and on
the hoary lea without melting. I stood, a wretched child enough,
whispering to myself over and over again, 'What shall I do?- what
shall I do?'
All at once I heard a clear voice call, 'Miss Jane! where are
you? Come to lunch!'
It was Bessie, I knew well enough; but I did not stir; her light
step came tripping down the path.
'You naughty little thing!' she said. 'Why don't you come when
you are called?'
Bessie's presence, compared with the thoughts over which I had been
brooding, seemed cheerful; even though, as usual, she was somewhat
cross. The fact is, after my conflict with and victory over Mrs. Reed,
I was not disposed to care much for the nursemaid's transitory
anger; and I was disposed to bask in her youthful lightness of
heart. I just put my two arms round her and said, 'Come, Bessie! don't
scold.'
The action was more frank and fearless than any I was habituated to
indulge in: somehow it pleased her.
'You are a strange child, Miss Jane,' she said, as she looked
down at me; 'a little roving, solitary thing: and you are going to
school, I suppose?'
I nodded.
'And won't you be sorry to leave poor Bessie?'
'What does Bessie care for me? She is always scolding me.'
'Because you're such a queer, frightened, shy little thing. You
should be bolder.'
'What! to get more knocks?'
'Nonsense! But you are rather put upon, that's certain. My mother
said, when she came to see me last week, that she would not like a
little one of her own to be in your place.- Now, come in, and I've
some good news for you.'
'I don't think you have, Bessie.'
'Child! what do you mean? What sorrowful eyes you fix on me!
Well, but Missis and the young ladies and Master John are going out to
tea this afternoon, and you shall have tea with me. I'll ask cook to
bake you a little cake, and then you shall help me to look over your
drawers; for I am soon to pack your trunk. Missis intends you to leave
Gateshead in a day or two, and you shall choose what toys you like
to take with you.'
'Bessie, you must promise not to scold me any more till I go.'
'Well, I will; but mind you are a very good girl, and don't be
afraid of me. Don't start when I chance to speak rather sharply;
it's so provoking.'
'I don't think I shall ever be afraid of you again, Bessie, because
I have got used to you, and I shall soon have another set of people to
dread.'
'If you dread them they'll dislike you.'
'As you do, Bessie?'
'I don't dislike you, Miss: I believe I am fonder of you than of
all the others.'