第65页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第65页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
of two miles, and the evening was wet, but the days were still long; I
visited a shop or two, slipped the letter into the post-office, and
came back through heavy rain, with streaming garments, but with a
relieved heart.
The succeeding week seemed long: it came to an end at last,
however, like all sublunary things, and once more, towards the close
of a pleasant autumn day, I found myself afoot on the road to
Lowton. A picturesque track it was, by the way; lying along the side
of the beck and through the sweetest curves of the dale: but that
day I thought more of the letters, that might or might not be awaiting
me at the little burgh whither I was bound, than of the charms of
lea and water.
My ostensible errand on this occasion was to get measured for a
pair of shoes; so I discharged that business first, and when it was
done, I stepped across the clean and quiet little street from the
shoemaker's to the post-office: it was kept by an old dame, who wore
horn spectacles on her nose, and black mittens on her hands.
'Are there any letters for J. E.?' I asked.
She peered at me over her spectacles, and then she opened a
drawer and fumbled among its contents for a long time, so long that my
hopes began to falter. At last, having held a document before her
glasses for nearly five minutes, she presented it across the
counter, accompanying the act by another inquisitive and mistrustful
glance- it was for J. E.
'Is there only one?' I demanded.
'There are no more,' said she; and I put it in my pocket and turned
my face homeward: I could not open it then; rules obliged me to be
back by eight, and it was already half-past seven.
Various duties awaited me on my arrival: I had to sit with the
girls during their hour of study; then it was my turn to read prayers;
to see them to bed: afterwards I supped with the other teachers.
Even when we finally retired for the night, the inevitable Miss
Gryce was still my companion: we had only a short end of candle in our
candlestick, and I dreaded lest she should talk till it was all
burnt out; fortunately, however, the heavy supper she had eaten
produced a soporific effect: she was already snoring before I had
finished undressing. There still remained an inch of candle: I now
took out my letter; the seal was an initial F.; I broke it; the
contents were brief.
Thursday, possesses the acquirements mentioned, and if she is in a
position to give satisfactory references as to character and
competency, a situation can be offered her where there is but one
pupil, a little girl, under ten years of age; and where the salary
is thirty pounds per annum. J. E. is requested to send references,
name, address, and all particulars to the direction:-
I examined the document long: the writing was old-fashioned and
rather uncertain, like that of an elderly lady. This circumstance
was satisfactory: a private fear had haunted me, that in thus acting