agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第14章
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have addressed her in a more kind and friendly manner； and given her
some words of comfort as well as a plain exposition of her duties； but Mrs。
Murray did neither the one nor the other。 She just stepped into the
schoolroom on her return from ordering dinner in the housekeeper's room；
bade me good…morning； stood for two minutes by the fire； said a few
words about the weather and the 'rather rough' journey I must have had
yesterday； petted her youngest child … a boy of ten … who had just been
wiping his mouth and hands on her gown； after indulging in some savoury
morsel from the house… keeper's store； told me what a sweet； good boy he
was； and then sailed out； with a self…complacent smile upon her face：
thinking； no doubt； that she had done quite enough for the present； and had
been delightfully condescending into the bargain。 Her children evidently
held the same opinion； and I alone thought otherwise。
After this she looked in upon me once or twice； during the absence of
my pupils； to enlighten me concerning my duties towards them。 For the
girls she seemed anxious only to render them as superficially attractive
and showily accomplished as they could possibly be made； without
present trouble or discomfort to themselves； and I was to act accordingly …
to study and strive to amuse and oblige； instruct； refine； and polish； with
the least possible exertion on their part； and no exercise of authority on
mine。 With regard to the two boys； it was much the same； only instead of
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accomplishments； I was to get the greatest possible quantity of Latin
grammar and Valpy's Delectus into their heads； in order to fit them for
school … the greatest possible quantity at least WITHOUT trouble to
themselves。 John might be a 'little high… spirited；' and Charles might be a
little 'nervous and tedious … '
'But at all events； Miss Grey；' said she； 'I hope YOU will keep your
temper； and be mild and patient throughout； especially with the dear little
Charles； he is so extremely nervous and susceptible； and so utterly
unaccustomed to anything but the tenderest treatment。 You will excuse
my naming these things to you； for the fact is； I have hitherto found all the
governesses； even the very best of them； faulty in this particular。 They
wanted that meek and quiet spirit； which St。 Matthew； or some of them；
says is better than the putting on of apparel … you will know the passage to
which I allude； for you are a clergyman's daughter。 But I have no doubt
you will give satisfaction in this respect as well as the rest。 And
remember； on all occasions； when any of the young people do anything
improper； if persuasion and gentle remonstrance will not do； let one of the
others come and tell me； for I can speak to them more plainly than it
would be proper for you to do。 And make them as happy as you can； Miss
Grey； and I dare say you will do very well。'
I observed that while Mrs。 Murray was so extremely solicitous for the
comfort and happiness of her children； and continually talking about it；
she never once mentioned mine； though they were at home； surrounded by
friends； and I an alien among strangers； and I did not yet know enough of
the world； not to be considerably surprised at this anomaly。
Miss Murray； otherwise Rosalie； was about sixteen when I came； and
decidedly a very pretty girl； and in two years longer； as time more
completely developed her form and added grace to her carriage and
deportment； she became positively beautiful； and that in no common
degree。 She was tall and slender； yet not thin； perfectly formed；
exquisitely fair； though not without a brilliant； healthy bloom； her hair；
which she wore in a profusion of long ringlets； was of a very light brown
inclining to yellow； her eyes were pale blue； but so clear and bright that
few would wish them darker； the rest of her features were small； not quite
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regular； and not remarkably otherwise： but altogether you could not
hesitate to pronounce her a very lovely girl。 I wish I could say as much
for mind and disposition as I can for her form and face。
Yet think not I have any dreadful disclosures to make： she was lively；
light…hearted； and could be very agreeable； with those who did not cross
her will。 Towards me； when I first came； she was cold and haughty； then
insolent and overbearing； but； on a further acquaintance； she gradually laid
aside her airs； and in time became as deeply attached to me as it was
possible for HER to be to one of my character and position： for she
seldom lost sight； for above half an hour at a time； of the fact of my being
a hireling and a poor curate's daughter。 And yet； upon the whole； I
believe she respected me more than she herself was aware of； because I
was the only person in the house who steadily professed good principles；
habitually spoke the truth； and generally endeavoured to make inclination
bow to duty； and this I say； not； of course； in commendation of myself； but
to show the unfortunate state of the family to which my services were； for
the present； devoted。 There was no member of it in whom I regretted this
sad want of principle so much as Miss Murray herself； not only because
she had taken a fancy to me； but because there was so much of what was
pleasant and prepossessing in herself； that； in spite of her failings； I really
liked her … when she did not rouse my indignation； or ruffle my temper by
TOO great a display of her faults。 These； however； I would fain persuade
myself were rather the effect of her education than her disposition： she
had never been perfectly taught the distinction between right and wrong；
she had； like her brothers and sisters； been suffered； from infancy； to
tyrannize over nurses； governesses； and servants； she had not been taught
to moderate her desires； to control her temper or bridle her will； or to
sacrifice her own pleasure for the good of others。 Her temper being
naturally good； she was never violent or morose； but from constant
indulgence； and habitual scorn of reason； she was often testy and
capricious； her mind had never been cultivated： her intellect； at best； was
somewhat shallow； she possessed considerable vivacity； some quickness
of perception； and some talent for music and the acquisition of languages；
but till fifteen she had troubled herself to acquire nothing； … then the love
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of display had roused her faculties； and induced her to apply herself； but
only to the more showy accomplishments。 And when I came it was the
same： everything was neglected but French； German； music； singing；
dancing； fancy…work； and a little drawing … such drawing as might produce
the greatest show with the smallest labour； and the principal parts of which
were generally done by me。 For music and singing； besides my
occasional instructions； she had the attendance of the best master the
country afforded； and in these accomplishments； as well as in dancing； she
certainly attained great proficiency。 To music； indeed； she devoted too
much of her time； as； governess though I was； I frequently told her； but her
mother thought that if SHE liked it； she COULD not give too much time
to the acquisition of so attractive an art。 Of fancy…work I knew nothing
but what I gathered from my pupil and my own observation； but no sooner
was I initiated； than she made me useful in twenty different ways： all the
tedious parts of her work were shifted on to my shoulders； such as
stretching the frames； stitching in the canvas； sorting the wools and silks；
putting in the grounds； counting the stitches； rectifying mistakes； and
finishing the pieces she was tired of。
At sixteen； Miss Murray was something of a romp； yet not more so
than is natural and allowable for a girl of that age； but at seventeen； that
propensity； like all other things； began to give way to the ruling passion；
and soon was swallowed up in the all… absorbing ambition to attract and
dazzle the other sex。 But enough of her： now let us turn to her sister。
Miss Matilda Murray was a veritable hoyden； of whom little need be
said。 She was about two years and a half younger than her sister； her
features were larger； her complexion much darker。 She might possibly
make a handsome woman； but she was far too big…boned and awkward
ever to be called a pretty girl； and at present she cared little about it。
Rosalie knew all her charms； and thought them even greater than they
were； and valued them more highly than she ought to have done； had they
been three times as great； Matilda thought she was well enough； but cared
little about the matter； still less did she care about the cultivation of her
mind； and the acquisition of ornamental accomplishments。 The manner
in which she learnt her lessons and practised her music was calculated to
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drive any governess to despair。 Short and easy as her tasks were； if done
at all； they were slurred over； at any time and in any way； but generally at
the least convenient times； and in the way least beneficial to herself； and
leas
