第253页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第253页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
nothing about me I could offer in exchange for one of these rolls? I
considered. I had a small silk handkerchief tied round my throat; I
had my gloves. I could hardly tell how men and women in extremities of
destitution proceeded. I did not know whether either of these articles
would be accepted: probably they would not; but I must try.
I entered the shop: a woman was there. Seeing a respectably-dressed
person, a lady as she supposed, she came forward with civility. How
could she serve me? I was seized with shame: my tongue would not utter
the request I had prepared. I dared not offer her the half-worn
gloves, the creased handkerchief: besides, I felt it would be
absurd. I only begged permission to sit down a moment, as I was tired.
Disappointed in the expectation of a customer, she coolly acceded to
my request. She pointed to a seat; I sank into it. I felt sorely urged
to weep; but conscious how unseasonable such a manifestation would be,
I restrained it. Soon I asked her 'if there were any dressmaker or
plain-workwoman in the village?'
'Yes; two or three. Quite as many as there was employment for.'
I reflected. I was driven to the point now. I was brought face to
face with Necessity. I stood in the position of one without a
resource, without a friend, without a coin. I must do something. What?
I must apply somewhere. Where?
'Did she know of any place in the neighbourhood where a servant was
wanted?'
'Nay; she couldn't say.'
'What was the chief trade in this place? What did most of the
people do?'
'Some were farm labourers; a good deal worked at Mr. Oliver's
needle-factory, and at the foundry.'
'Did Mr. Oliver employ women?'
'Nay; it was men's work.'
'And what do the women do?'
'I knawn't,' was the answer. 'Some does one thing, and some
another. Poor folk mun get on as they can.'
She seemed to be tired of my questions: and, indeed, what claim had
I to importune her? A neighbour or two came in; my chair was evidently
wanted. I took leave.
I passed up the street, looking as I went at all the houses to
the right hand and to the left; but I could discover no pretext, nor
see an inducement to enter any. I rambled round the hamlet, going
sometimes to a little distance and returning again, for an hour or
more. Much exhausted, and suffering greatly now for want of food, I
turned aside into a lane and sat down under the hedge. Ere many
minutes had elapsed, I was again on my feet, however, and again
searching something- a resource, or at least an informant. A pretty
little house stood at the top of the lane, with a garden before it,
exquisitely neat and brilliantly blooming. I stopped at it. What
business had I to approach the white door or touch the glittering
knocker? In what way could it possibly be the interest of the
inhabitants of that dwelling to serve me? Yet I drew near and knocked.
A mild-looking, cleanly-attired young woman opened the door. In such a