Besides the old lady, there was another relative of the family, whose visits were a great annoyance1 to me--this was 'Uncle Robson,' Mrs. Bloomfield's brother; a tall, self-sufficient fellow, with dark hair and sallow complexion2 like his sister, a nose that seemed to disdain3 the earth, and little grey eyes, frequently half-closed, with a mixture of real stupidity and affected4 contempt of all surrounding objects. He was a thick-set, strongly-built man, but he had found some means of compressing his waist into a remarkably5 small compass; and that, together with the unnatural6 stillness of his form, showed that the lofty-minded, manly7 Mr. Robson, the scorner of the female sex, was not above the foppery of stays. He seldom deigned8 to notice me; and, when he did, it was with a certain supercilious9 insolence10 of tone and manner that convinced me he was no gentleman: though it was intended to have a contrary effect. But it was not for that I disliked his coming, so much as for the harm he did the children--encouraging all their evil propensities11, and undoing12 in a few minutes the little good it had taken me months of labour to achieve.
Fanny and little Harriet he seldom condescended13 to notice; but Mary Ann was something of a favourite. He was continually encouraging her tendency to affectation (which I had done my utmost to crush), talking about her pretty face, and filling her head with all manner of conceited14 notions concerning her personal appearance (which I had instructed her to regard as dust in the balance compared with the cultivation15 of her mind and manners); and I never saw a child so susceptible16 of flattery as she was. Whatever was wrong, in either her or her brother, he would encourage by laughing at, if not by actually praising: people little know the injury they do to children by laughing at their faults, and making a pleasant jest of what their true friends have endeavoured to teach them to hold in grave abhorrence17.
Though not a positive drunkard, Mr. Robson habitually18 swallowed great quantities of wine, and took with relish19 an occasional glass of brandy and water. He taught his nephew to imitate him in this to the utmost of his ability, and to believe that the more wine and spirits he could take, and the better he liked them, the more he manifested his bold, and manly spirit, and rose superior to his sisters. Mr. Bloomfield had not much to say against it, for his favourite beverage20 was gin and water; of which he took a considerable portion every day, by dint21 of constant sipping--and to that I chiefly attributed his dingy22 complexion and waspish temper.
Mr. Robson likewise encouraged Tom's propensity23 to persecute24 the lower creation, both by precept25 and example. As he frequently came to course or shoot over his brother-in-law's grounds, he would bring his favourite dogs with him; and he treated them so brutally26 that, poor as I was, I would have given a sovereign any day to see one of them bite him, provided the animal could have done it with impunity27. Sometimes, when in a very complacent28 mood, he would go a-birds'-nesting with the children, a thing that irritated and annoyed me exceedingly; as, by frequent and persevering29 attempts, I flattered myself I had partly shown them the evil of this pastime, and hoped, in time, to bring them to some general sense of justice and humanity; but ten minutes' birds'-nesting with uncle Robson, or even a laugh from him at some relation of their former barbarities, was sufficient at once to destroy the effect of my whole elaborate course of reasoning and persuasion30. Happily, however, during that spring, they never, but once, got anything but empty nests, or eggs--being too impatient to leave them till the birds were hatched; that once, Tom, who had been with his uncle into the neighbouring plantation31, came running in high glee into the garden, with a brood of little callow nestlings in his hands. Mary Ann and Fanny, whom I was just bringing out, ran to admire his spoils, and to beg each a bird for themselves. 'No, not one!' cried Tom. 'They're all mine; uncle Robson gave them to me--one, two, three, four, five--you shan't touch one of them! no, not one, for your lives!' continued he, exultingly32; laying the nest on the ground, and standing33 over it with his legs wide apart, his hands thrust into his breeches-pockets, his body bent34 forward, and his face twisted into all manner of contortions35 in the ecstasy36 of his delight.
'But you shall see me fettle 'em off. My word, but I WILL wallop 'em? See if I don't now. By gum! but there's rare sport for me in that nest.'
'But, Tom,' said I, 'I shall not allow you to torture those birds. They must either be killed at once or carried back to the place you took them from, that the old birds may continue to feed them.'
'But you don't know where that is, Madam: it's only me and uncle Robson that knows that.'
'But if you don't tell me, I shall kill them myself--much as I hate it.'
'You daren't. You daren't touch them for your life! because you know papa and mamma, and uncle Robson, would be angry. Ha, ha! I've caught you there, Miss!'
'I shall do what I think right in a case of this sort without consulting any one. If your papa and mamma don't happen to approve of it, I shall be sorry to offend them; but your uncle Robson's opinions, of course, are nothing to me.'
So saying--urged by a sense of duty--at the risk of both making myself sick and incurring37 the wrath38 of my employers--I got a large flat stone, that had been reared up for a mouse-trap by the gardener; then, having once more vainly endeavoured to persuade the little tyrant39 to let the birds be carried back, I asked what he intended to do with them. With fiendish glee he commenced a list of torments41; and while he was busied in the relation, I dropped the stone upon his intended victims and crushed them flat beneath it. Loud were the outcries, terrible the execrations, consequent upon this daring outrage42; uncle Robson had been coming up the walk with his gun, and was just then pausing to kick his dog. Tom flew towards him, vowing43 he would make him kick me instead of Juno. Mr. Robson leant upon his gun, and laughed excessively at the violence of his nephew's passion, and the bitter maledictions and opprobrious44 epithets45 he heaped upon me. 'Well, you ARE a good 'un!' exclaimed he, at length, taking up his weapon and proceeding46 towards the house. 'Damme, but the lad has some spunk47 in him, too. Curse me, if ever I saw a nobler little scoundrel than that. He's beyond petticoat government already: by God! he defies mother, granny, governess, and all! Ha, ha, ha! Never mind, Tom, I'll get you another brood to-morrow.'
'If you do, Mr. Robson, I shall kill them too,' said I.
'Humph!' replied he, and having honoured me with a broad stare-- which, contrary to his expectations, I sustained without flinching- -he turned away with an air of supreme48 contempt, and stalked into the house. Tom next went to tell his mamma. It was not her way to say much on any subject; but, when she next saw me, her aspect and demeanour were doubly dark and chilled. After some casual remark about the weather, she observed--'I am sorry, Miss Grey, you should think it necessary to interfere49 with Master Bloomfield's amusements; he was very much distressed50 about your destroying the birds.'
'When Master Bloomfield's amusements consist in injuring sentient51 creatures,' I answered, 'I think it my duty to interfere.'
'You seemed to have forgotten,' said she, calmly, 'that the creatures were all created for our convenience.'
I thought that doctrine52 admitted some doubt, but merely replied-- 'If they were, we have no right to torment40 them for our amusement.'
'I think,' said she, 'a child's amusement is scarcely to be weighed against the welfare of a soulless brute54.'
'But, for the child's own sake, it ought not to be encouraged to have such amusements,' answered I, as meekly55 as I could, to make up for such unusual pertinacity56. '"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."'
'Oh! of course; but that refers to our conduct towards each other.'
'"The merciful man shows mercy to his beast,"' I ventured to add.
'I think YOU have not shown much mercy,' replied she, with a short, bitter laugh; 'killing57 the poor birds by wholesale58 in that shocking manner, and putting the dear boy to such misery59 for a mere53 whim60.'
I judged it prudent61 to say no more. This was the nearest approach to a quarrel I ever had with Mrs. Bloomfield; as well as the greatest number of words I ever exchanged with her at one time, since the day of my first arrival.
But Mr. Robson and old Mrs. Bloomfield were not the only guests whose coming to Wellwood House annoyed me; every visitor disturbed me more or less; not so much because they neglected me (though I did feel their conduct strange and disagreeable in that respect), as because I found it impossible to keep my pupils away from them, as I was repeatedly desired to do: Tom must talk to them, and Mary Ann must be noticed by them. Neither the one nor the other knew what it was to feel any degree of shamefacedness, or even common modesty62. They would indecently and clamorously interrupt the conversation of their elders, tease them with the most impertinent questions, roughly collar the gentlemen, climb their knees uninvited, hang about their shoulders or rifle their pockets, pull the ladies' gowns, disorder63 their hair, tumble their collars, and importunately64 beg for their trinkets.
Mrs. Bloomfield had the sense to be shocked and annoyed at all this, but she had not sense to prevent it: she expected me to prevent it. But how could I--when the guests, with their fine clothes and new faces, continually flattered and indulged them, out of complaisance65 to their parents--how could I, with my homely66 garments, every-day face, and honest words, draw them away? I strained every nerve to do so: by striving to amuse them, I endeavoured to attract them to my side; by the exertion67 of such authority as I possessed68, and by such severity as I dared to use, I tried to deter69 them from tormenting70 the guests; and by reproaching their unmannerly conduct, to make them ashamed to repeat it. But they knew no shame; they scorned authority which had no terrors to back it; and as for kindness and affection, either they had no hearts, or such as they had were so strongly guarded, and so well concealed71, that I, with all my efforts, had not yet discovered how to reach them.
But soon my trials in this quarter came to a close--sooner than I either expected or desired; for one sweet evening towards the close of May, as I was rejoicing in the near approach of the holidays, and congratulating myself upon having made some progress with my pupils (as far as their learning went, at least, for I HAD instilled72 SOMETHING into their heads, and I had, at length, brought them to be a little--a very little--more rational about getting their lessons done in time to leave some space for recreation, instead of tormenting themselves and me all day long to no purpose), Mrs. Bloomfield sent for me, and calmly told me that after Midsummer my services would be no longer required. She assured me that my character and general conduct were unexceptionable; but the children had made so little improvement since my arrival that Mr. Bloomfield and she felt it their duty to seek some other mode of instruction. Though superior to most children of their years in abilities, they were decidedly behind them in attainments73; their manners were uncultivated, and their tempers unruly. And this she attributed to a want of sufficient firmness, and diligent74, persevering care on my part.
Unshaken firmness, devoted75 diligence, unwearied perseverance76, unceasing care, were the very qualifications on which I had secretly prided myself; and by which I had hoped in time to overcome all difficulties, and obtain success at last. I wished to say something in my own justification77; but in attempting to speak, I felt my voice falter78; and rather than testify any emotion, or suffer the tears to overflow79 that were already gathering80 in my eyes, I chose to keep silence, and bear all like a self-convicted culprit.
Thus was I dismissed, and thus I sought my home. Alas81! what would they think of me? unable, after all my boasting, to keep my place, even for a single year, as governess to three small children, whose mother was asserted by my own aunt to be a 'very nice woman.' Having been thus weighed in the balance and found wanting, I need not hope they would be willing to try me again. And this was an unwelcome thought; for vexed82, harassed83, disappointed as I had been, and greatly as I had learned to love and value my home, I was not yet weary of adventure, nor willing to relax my efforts. I knew that all parents were not like Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield, and I was certain all children were not like theirs. The next family must be different, and any change must be for the better. I had been seasoned by adversity, and tutored by experience, and I longed to redeem84 my lost honour in the eyes of those whose opinion was more than that of all the world to me.
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1
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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spunk
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| n.勇气，胆量 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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sentient
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| adj.有知觉的，知悉的；adv.有感觉能力地 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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importunately
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complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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instilled
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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84
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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