Jane Eyre 简爱 Chapter 12

THE promise of a smooth career, which my first calm introduction to Thornfield Hall seemed to pledge, was not belied ¹ on a longer acquaintance with the place and its inmates ². Mrs. Fairfax turned out to be what she appeared, a placid-tempered, kind-natured woman, of competent education and average intelligence. My pupil was a lively child, who had been spoilt and indulged, and therefore was sometimes wayward; but as she was committed entirely ³ to my care, and no injudicious interference from any quarter ever thwarted ⁴ my plans for her improvement, she soon forgot her little freaks, and became obedient and teachable. She had no great talents, no marked traits of character, no peculiar ⁵ development of feeling or taste which raised her one inch above the ordinary level of childhood; but neither had she any deficiency or vice ⁷ which sunk her below it. She made reasonable progress, entertained for me a vivacious ⁸, though perhaps not very profound, affection; and by her simplicity ⁹, gay prattle ¹⁰, and efforts to please, inspired me, in return, with a degree of attachment ¹¹ sufficient to make us both content in each other's society., , , ,This, par ¹² parenthese, will be thought cool language by persons who entertain solemn doctrines ¹³ about the angelic nature of children, and the duty of those charged with their education to conceive for them an idolatrous devotion: but I am not writing to flatter parental ¹⁴ egotism, to echo cant ¹⁵, or prop ¹⁶ up humbug ¹⁷; I am merely telling the truth. I felt a conscientious ¹⁸ solicitude ¹⁹ for Adele's welfare and progress, and a quiet liking ²⁰ for her little self: just as I cherished towards Mrs. Fairfax a thankfulness for her kindness, and a pleasure in her society proportionate to the tranquil ²¹ regard she had for me, and the moderation of her mind and character., , ,Who blames me? Many, no doubt; and I shall be called discontented. I could not help it: the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated ²⁸ me to pain sometimes. Then my sole relief was to walk along the corridor of the third storey, backwards ²⁹ and forwards, safe in the silence and solitude ³⁰ of the spot, and allow my mind's eye to dwell on whatever bright visions rose before it- and, certainly, they were many and glowing; to let my heart be heaved by the exultant ³¹ movement, which, while it swelled ³² it in trouble, expanded it with life; and, best of all, to open my inward ear to a tale that was never ended- a tale my imagination created, and narrated ³³ continuously; quickened with all of incident, life, fire, feeling, that I desired and had not in my actual existence., ,It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity ³⁴: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned ³⁶ to a stiller doom ³⁷ than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment ³⁸ in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties ³⁹, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid ⁴⁰ a restraint, too absolute a stagnation ⁴¹, precisely ⁴² as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering ⁴³ bags. It is thoughtless to condemn ³⁵ them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex., ,Her smile belied her true feelings. 她的微笑掩饰了她的真实感情 。 来自《简明英汉词典》,One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了
。 来自《简明英汉词典》