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where each held a situation in families by whose wealthy and haughty
members they were regarded only as humble dependants, and who
neither knew nor sought out their innate excellences, and
appreciated only their acquired accomplishments as they appreciated
the skill of their cook or the taste of their waiting-woman. Mr. St.
John had said nothing to me yet about the employment he had promised
to obtain for me; yet it became urgent that I should have a vocation
of some kind. One morning, being left alone with him a few minutes
in the parlour, I ventured to approach the window-recess- which his
table, chair, and desk consecrated as a kind of study- and I was going
to speak, though not very well knowing in what words to frame my
inquiry- for it is at all times difficult to break the ice of
reserve glassing over such natures as his- when he saved me the
trouble by being the first to commence a dialogue.
Looking up as I drew near- 'You have a question to ask of me?' he
said.
'Yes; I wish to know whether you have heard of any service I can
offer myself to undertake?'
'I found or devised something for you three weeks ago; but as you
seemed both useful and happy here- as my sisters had evidently
become attached to you, and your society gave them unusual pleasure- I
deemed it inexpedient to break in on your mutual comfort till their
approaching departure from Marsh End should render yours necessary.'
'And they will go in three days now?' I said.
'Yes; and when they go, I shall return to the parsonage at
Morton: Hannah will accompany me; and this old house will be shut up.'
I waited a few moments, expecting he would go on with the subject
first broached: but he seemed to have entered another train of
reflection: his look denoted abstraction from me and my business. I
was obliged to recall him to a theme which was of necessity one of
close and anxious interest to me.
'What is the employment you had in view, Mr. Rivers? I hope this
delay will not have increased the difficulty of securing it.'
'Oh, no; since it is an employment which depends only on me to
give, and you to accept.'
He again paused: there seemed a reluctance to continue. I grew
impatient: a restless movement or two, and an eager and exacting
glance fastened on his face, conveyed the feeling to him as
effectually as words could have done, and with less trouble.
'You need be in no hurry to hear,' he said: 'let me frankly tell
you, I have nothing eligible or profitable to suggest. Before I
explain, recall, if you please, my notice, clearly given, that if I
helped you, it must be as the blind man would help the lame. I am
poor; for I find that, when I have paid my father's debts, all the
patrimony remaining to me will be this crumbling grange, the row of
scathed firs behind, and the patch of moorish soil, with the yew-trees
and holly-bushes in front. I am obscure: Rivers is an old name; but of