按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
leaves； and listened。
The aunt said； 'Charlotte； Miss Wade is wearing you to death； and this
must not continue。' I repeat the very words I heard。
Now； what did she answer？ Did she say； 'It is I who am wearing her to
death； I who am keeping her on a rack and am the executioner； yet she
tells me every night that she loves me devotedly； though she knows what
I make her undergo？' No； my first memorable experience was true to
what I knew her to be； and to all my experience。 She began sobbing and
weeping （to secure the aunt's sympathy to herself）； and said； 'Dear
aunt； she has an unhappy temper； other girls at school； besides I； try
hard to make it better； we all try hard。'
Upon that the aunt fondled her； as if she had said something noble
instead of despicable and false； and kept up the infamous pretence by
replying； 'But there are reasonable limits； my dear love； to everything；
and I see that this poor miserable girl causes you more constant and
useless distress than even so good an effort justifies。'
The poor miserable girl came out of her concealment； as you may be
prepared to hear； and said； 'Send me home。' I never said another word
to either of them； or to any of them； but 'Send me home； or I will
walk home alone； night and day！' When I got home； I told my supposed
grandmother that； unless I was sent away to finish my education
somewhere else before that girl came back； or before any one of them
came back； I would burn my sight away by throwing myself into the fire；
rather than I would endure to look at their plotting faces。
I went among young women next； and I found them no better。 Fair
words and fair pretences； but I perated below those assertions of
themselves and depreciations of me； and they were no better。 Before
I left them； I learned that I had no grandmother and no recognised
relation。 I carried the light of that information both into my past
and into my future。 It showed me many new occasions on which people
triumphed over me； when they made a pretence of treating me with
consideration； or doing me a service。
A man of business had a small property in trust for me。 I was to be
a governess； I became a governess； and went into the family of a poor
nobleman； where there were two daughters……little children； but the
parents wished them to grow up； if possible； under one instructress。 The
mother was young and pretty。 From the first； she made a show of behaving
to me with great delicacy。 I kept my resentment to myself； but I knew
very well that it was her way of petting the knowledge that she was my
Mistress； and might have behaved differently to her servant if it had
been her fancy。
I say I did not resent it； nor did I； but I showed her； by not
gratifying her； that I understood her。 When she pressed me to take wine；
I took water。 If there happened to be anything choice at table； she
always sent it to me： but I always declined it； and ate of the rejected
dishes。 These disappointments of her patronage were a sharp retort； and
made me feel independent。
I liked the children。 They were timid； but on the whole disposed to
attach themselves to me。 There was a nurse； however； in the house； a
rosy…faced woman always making an obtrusive pretence of being gay and
good…humoured； who had nursed them both； and who had secured their
affections before I saw them。 I could almost have settled down to my
fate but for this woman。 Her artful devices for keeping herself before
the children in constant petition with me； might have blinded many
in my place； but I saw through them from the first。 On the pretext of
arranging my rooms and waiting on me and taking care of my wardrobe （all
of which she did busily）； she was never absent。 The most crafty of her
many subtleties was her feint of seeking to make the children fonder of
me。 She would lead them to me and coax them to me。 'e to good Miss
Wade； e to dear Miss Wade； e to pretty Miss Wade。 She loves you
very much。 Miss Wade is a clever lady； who has read heaps of books； and
can tell you far better and more interesting stories than I know。 e
and hear Miss Wade！' How could I engage their attentions； when my heart
was burning against these ignorant designs？ How could I wonder； when I
saw their innocent faces shrinking away； and their arms twining round
her neck； instead of mine？ Then she would look up at me； shaking their
curls from her face； and say； 'They'll e round soon； Miss Wade；
they're very simple and loving； ma'am； don't be at all cast down about
it； ma'am'……exulting over me！
There was another thing the woman did。 At times； when she saw that she
had safely plunged me into a black despondent brooding by these means；
she would call the attention of the children to it； and would show them
the difference between herself and me。 'Hush！ Poor Miss Wade is not
well。 Don't make a noise； my dears； her head aches。 e and fort
her。 e and ask her if she is better； e and ask her to lie down。 I
hope you have nothing on your mind； ma'am。 Don't take on； ma'am； and be
sorry！'
It became intolerable。 Her ladyship； my Mistress； ing in one day when
I was alone； and at the height of feeling that I could support it no
longer； I told her I must go。 I could not bear the presence of that
woman Dawes。
'Miss Wade！ Poor Dawes is devoted to you； would do anything for you！'
I knew beforehand she would say so； I was quite prepared for it； I only
answered； it was not for me to contradict my Mistress； I must go。
'I hope； Miss Wade；' she returned； instantly assuming the tone of
superiority she had always so thinly concealed； 'that nothing I have
ever said or done since we have been together； has justified your use of
that disagreeable word； 〃Mistress。〃 It must have been wholly inadvertent
on my part。 Pray tell me what it is。'
I replied that I had no plaint to make； either of my Mistress or to
my Mistress； but I must go。
She hesitated a moment； and then sat down beside me； and laid her hand
on mine。 As if that honour would obliterate any remembrance！
'Miss Wade； I fear you are unhappy； through causes over which I have no
influence。'
I smiled； thinking of the experience the word awakened； and said； 'I
have an unhappy temper； I suppose。' 'I did not say that。'
'It is an easy way of accounting for anything；' said I。
'It may be； but I did not say so。 What I wish to approach is something
very different。 My husband and I have exchanged some remarks upon the
subject； when we have observed with pain that you have not been easy
with us。'
'Easy？ Oh！ You are such great people； my lady；' said I。
'I am unfortunate in using a word which may convey a meaning……and
evidently does……quite opposite to my intention。' （She had not expected
my reply； and it shamed her。） 'I only mean； not happy with us。 It is
a difficult topic to enter on； but； from one young woman to another；
perhaps……in short； we have been apprehensive that you may allow some
family circumstances of which no one can be more innocent than yourself；
to prey upon your spirits。 If so； let us entreat you not to make them
a cause of grief。 My husband himself； as is well known； formerly had a
very dear sister who was not in law his sister； but