agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第6节
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'But you will have to feel it some time； Tom： you have heard where
wicked people go to when they die； and if you don't leave off torturing
innocent birds； remember； you will have to go there； and suffer just what
you have made them suffer。'
'Oh； pooh！ I shan't。 Papa knows how I treat them； and he never
blames me for it： he says it is just what HE used to do when HE was a
boy。 Last summer； he gave me a nest full of young sparrows； and he saw
me pulling off their legs and wings； and heads； and never said anything；
except that they were nasty things； and I must not let them soil my trousers：
end Uncle Robson was there too； and he laughed； and said I was a fine
boy。'
'But what would your mamma say？'
'Oh； she doesn't care！ she says it's a pity to kill the pretty singing birds；
but the naughty sparrows； and mice； and rats； I may do what I like with。
So now； Miss Grey； you see it is NOT wicked。'
'I still think it is； Tom； and perhaps your papa and mamma would think
so too； if they thought much about it。 However；' I internally added； 'they
may say what they please； but I am determined you shall do nothing of the
kind； as long as I have power to prevent it。'
He next took me across the lawn to see his mole…traps； and then into
the stack…yard to see his weasel…traps： one of which； to his great joy；
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contained a dead weasel； and then into the stable to see； not the fine
carriage…horses； but a little rough colt； which he informed me had been
bred on purpose for him； and he was to ride it as soon as it was properly
trained。 I tried to amuse the little fellow； and listened to all his chatter as
complacently as I could； for I thought if he had any affections at all； I
would endeavour to win them； and then； in time； I might be able to show
him the error of his ways： but I looked in vain for that generous； noble
spirit his mother talked of； though I could see he was not without a certain
degree of quickness and penetration； when he chose to exert it。
When we re…entered the house it was nearly tea…time。 Master Tom
told me that； as papa was from home； he and I and Mary Ann were to have
tea with mamma； for a treat； for； on such occasions； she always dined at
luncheon…time with them； instead of at six o'clock。 Soon after tea； Mary
Ann went to bed； but Tom favoured us with his company and conversation
till eight。 After he was gone； Mrs。 Bloomfield further enlightened me on
the subject of her children's dispositions and acquirements； and on what
they were to learn； and how they were to be managed； and cautioned me to
mention their defects to no one but herself。 My mother had warned me
before to mention them as little as possible to HER； for people did not like
to be told of their children's faults； and so I concluded I was to keep
silence on them altogether。 About half…past nine； Mrs。 Bloomfield
invited me to partake of a frugal supper of cold meat and bread。 I was
glad when that was over； and she took her bedroom candlestick and retired
to rest； for though I wished to be pleased with her； her company was
extremely irksome to me； and I could not help feeling that she was cold；
grave； and forbidding … the very opposite of the kind； warm…hearted
matron my hopes had depicted her to be。
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CHAPTER III … A FEW MORE
LESSONS
I ROSE next morning with a feeling of hopeful exhilaration； in spite of
the disappointments already experienced； but I found the dressing of Mary
Ann was no light matter； as her abundant hair was to be smeared with
pomade； plaited in three long tails； and tied with bows of ribbon： a task
my unaccustomed fingers found great difficulty in performing。 She told
me her nurse could do it in half the time； and； by keeping up a constant
fidget of impatience； contrived to render me still longer。 When all was
done； we went into the schoolroom； where I met my other pupil； and
chatted with the two till it was time to go down to breakfast。 That meal
being concluded； and a few civil words having been exchanged with Mrs。
Bloomfield； we repaired to the schoolroom again； and commenced the
business of the day。 I found my pupils very backward； indeed； but Tom；
though averse to every species of mental exertion； was not without
abilities。 Mary Ann could scarcely read a word； and was so careless and
inattentive that I could hardly get on with her at all。 However； by dint of
great labour and patience； I managed to get something done in the course
of the morning； and then accompanied my young charge out into the
garden and adjacent grounds； for a little recreation before dinner。 There
we got along tolerably together； except that I found they had no notion of
going with me： I must go with them； wherever they chose to lead me。 I
must run； walk； or stand； exactly as it suited their fancy。 This； I thought；
was reversing the order of things； and I found it doubly disagreeable； as on
this as well as subsequent occasions； they seemed to prefer the dirtiest
places and the most dismal occupations。 But there was no remedy； either
I must follow them； or keep entirely apart from them； and thus appear
neglectful of my charge。 To…day； they manifested a particular attachment
to a well at the bottom of the lawn； where they persisted in dabbling with
sticks and pebbles for above half an hour。 I was in constant fear that their
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mother would see them from the window； and blame me for allowing them
thus to draggle their clothes and wet their feet and hands； instead of taking
exercise； but no arguments； commands； or entreaties could draw them
away。 If SHE did not see them； some one else did … a gentleman on
horseback had entered the gate and was proceeding up the road； at the
distance of a few paces from us he paused； and calling to the children in a
waspish penetrating tone； bade them 'keep out of that water。' 'Miss Grey；'
said he； '（I suppose it IS Miss Grey）； I am surprised that you should allow
them to dirty their clothes in that manner！ Don't you see how Miss
Bloomfield has soiled her frock？ and that Master Bloomfield's socks are
quite wet？ and both of them without gloves？ Dear； dear！ Let me
REQUEST that in future you will keep them DECENT at least！' so saying；
he turned away； and continued his ride up to the house。 This was Mr。
Bloomfield。 I was surprised that he should nominate his children Master
and Miss Bloomfield； and still more so； that he should speak so uncivilly
to me； their governess； and a perfect stranger to himself。 Presently the
bell rang to summon us in。 I dined with the children at one； while he and
his lady took their luncheon at the same table。 His conduct there did not
greatly raise him in my estimation。 He was a man of ordinary stature …
rather below than above … and rather thin than stout； apparently between
thirty and forty years of age： he had a large mouth； pale； dingy
complexion； milky blue eyes； and hair the colour of a hempen cord。
There was a roast leg of mutton before him： he helped Mrs。 Bloomfield；
the children； and me； desiring me to cut up the children's meat； then； after
twisting about the mutton in various directions； and eyeing it from
different points； he pronounced it not fit to be eaten； and called for the
cold beef。
'What is the matter with the mutton； my dear？' asked his mate。
'It is quite overdone。 Don't you taste； Mrs。 Bloomfield； that all the
goodness is roasted out of it？ And can't
