agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第9章
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manner altered too： the familiar nod was changed to a stiff bow； the
gracious smile gave place to a glare of Gorgon ferocity； her vivacious
loquacity was entirely transferred from me to 'the darling boy and girls；'
whom she flattered and indulged more absurdly than ever their mother had
done。
I confess I was somewhat troubled at this change： I feared the
consequences of her displeasure； and even made some efforts to recover
the ground I had lost … and with better apparent success than I could have
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anticipated。 At one time； I； merely in common civility； asked after her
cough； immediately her long visage relaxed into a smile； and she favoured
me with a particular history of that and her other infirmities； followed by
an account of her pious resignation； delivered in the usual emphatic；
declamatory style； which no writing can portray。
'But there's one remedy for all； my dear； and that's resignation' （a toss
of the head）； 'resignation to the will of heaven！' （an uplifting of the hands
and eyes）。 'It has always supported me through all my trials； and always
will do' （a succession of nods）。 'But then； it isn't everybody that can say
that' （a shake of the head）； 'but I'm one of the pious ones； Miss Grey！' （a
very significant nod and toss）。 'And； thank heaven； I always was'
（another nod）； 'and I glory in it！' （an emphatic clasping of the hands and
shaking of the head）。 And with several texts of Scripture； misquoted or
misapplied； and religious exclamations so redolent of the ludicrous in the
style of delivery and manner of bringing in； if not in the expressions
themselves； that I decline repeating them； she withdrew； tossing her large
head in high good… humour … with herself at least … and left me hoping that；
after all； she was rather weak than wicked。
At her next visit to Wellwood House； I went so far as to say I was glad
to see her looking so well。 The effect of this was magical： the words；
intended as a mark of civility； were received as a flattering compliment；
her countenance brightened up； and from that moment she became as
gracious and benign as heart could wish … in outward semblance at least。
From what I now saw of her； and what I heard from the children； I know
that； in order to gain her cordial friendship； I had but to utter a word of
flattery at each convenient opportunity： but this was against my
principles； and for lack of this； the capricious old dame soon deprived me
of her favour again； and I believe did me much secret injury。
She could not greatly influence her daughter…in…law against me；
because； between that lady and herself there was a mutual dislike … chiefly
shown by her in secret detractions and calumniations； by the other； in an
excess of frigid formality in her demeanour； and no fawning flattery of the
elder could thaw away the wall of ice which the younger interposed
between them。 But with her son； the old lady had better success： he
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would listen to all she had to say； provided she could soothe his fretful
temper； and refrain from irritating him by her own asperities； and I have
reason to believe that she considerably strengthened his prejudice against
me。 She would tell him that I shamefully neglected the children； and
even his wife did not attend to them as she ought； and that he must look
after them himself； or they would all go to ruin。
Thus urged； he would frequently give himself the trouble of watching
them from the windows during their play； at times； he would follow them
through the grounds； and too often came suddenly upon them while they
were dabbling in the forbidden well； talking to the coachman in the stables；
or revelling in the filth of the farm…yard … and I； meanwhile； wearily
standing； by； having previously exhausted my energy in vain attempts to
get them away。 Often； too； he would unexpectedly pop his head into the
schoolroom while the young people were at meals； and find them spilling
their milk over the table and themselves； plunging their fingers into their
own or each other's mugs； or quarrelling over their victuals like a set of
tiger's cubs。 If I were quiet at the moment； I was conniving at their
disorderly conduct； if （as was frequently the case） I happened to be
exalting my voice to enforce order； I was using undue violence； and
setting the girls a bad example by such ungentleness of tone and language。
I remember one afternoon in spring； when； owing to the rain； they
could not go out； but； by some amazing good fortune； they had all finished
their lessons； and yet abstained from running down to tease their parents …
a trick that annoyed me greatly； but which； on rainy days； I seldom could
prevent their doing； because； below； they found novelty and amusement …
especially when visitors were in the house； and their mother； though she
bid me keep them in the schoolroom； would never chide them for leaving
it； or trouble herself to send them back。 But this day they appeared
satisfied with； their present abode； and what is more wonderful still；
seemed disposed to play together without depending on me for amusement；
and without quarrelling with each other。 Their occupation was a
somewhat puzzling one： they were all squatted together on the floor by
the window； over a heap of broken toys and a quantity of birds' eggs … or
rather egg…shells； for the contents had luckily been abstracted。 These
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shells they had broken up and were pounding into small fragments； to
what end I could not imagine； but so long as they were quiet and not in
positive mischief； I did not care； and； with a feeling of unusual repose； I
sat by the fire； putting the finishing stitches to a frock for Mary Ann's doll；
intending； when that was done； to begin a letter to my mother。 Suddenly
the door opened； and the dingy head of Mr。 Bloomfield looked in。
'All very quiet here！ What are you doing？' said he。 'No harm TO…
DAY； at least；' thought I。 But he was of a different opinion。 Advancing to
the window； and seeing the children's occupations； he testily exclaimed …
'What in the world are you about？'
'We're grinding egg…shells； papa！' cried Tom。
'How DARE you make such a mess； you little devils？ Don't you see
what confounded work you're making of the carpet？' （the carpet was a
plain brown drugget）。 'Miss Grey； did you know what they were doing？'
'Yes； sir。'
'You knew it？'
'Yes。'
'You knew it！ and you actually sat there and permitted them to go on
without a word of reproof！'
'I didn't think they were doing any harm。'
'Any harm！ Why； look there！ Just look at that carpet； and see … was
there ever anything like it in a Christian house before？ No wonder your
room is not fit for a pigsty … no wonder your pupils are worse than a litter
of pigs！ … no wonder … oh！ I declare； it puts me quite past my patience' and
he departed； shutting the door after him with a bang that made the children
laugh。
'It puts me quite past my patience too！' muttered I； getting up； and；
seizing the poker； I dashed it repeatedly into the cinders； and stirred them
up with unwonted energy； thus easing my irritation under pretence of
mending the fire。
After this； Mr。 Bloomfield was continually looking in to see if the
schoolroom was in order； and； as the children were continually littering
the floor with fragments of toys； sticks； stones； stubble； leaves； and other
rubbish； which I could not prevent their bringing； or oblige them to gather
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up； and which the servants refused to 'clean after them；' I had to spend a
considerable portion of my valuable leisure moments on my knees upon
the floor； in painsfully reducing things to order。 Once I told them that
they should not taste their supper till they had picked up everything from
the carpet； Fanny might have hers when she had taken up a certain
quantity； Mary Ann when she had gathered twice as many； and Tom was to
clear away the rest。 Wonderful to state； the girls did their part； but Tom
was in such a fury that he flew upon the table； scattered the bread and milk
about the floor； struck his sisters； kicked the coals out of the coal…pan；
attempted to overthrow the table and chairs； and seemed inclined to make
a Douglas…larder of the whole contents of the room： but I seized upon
him； and； sending Mary Ann to call her mamma； held him； in spite of
kicks； blows； yells； and execrations； till Mrs。 Bloomfield made her
appearance。
'What is the matter with my boy？' said she。
And when the matter was explained to her； all she did was to send for
the nursery…maid to put the room in order； and bring Master Bloomfield
his supper。
'There now；' cried Tom； triumphantly； looking up from his viands with
his mouth almost too full for speech。 'There now； Miss Grey！ you see
I've got my supper in spite of you： and I haven't picked up a single
thing！'
The only person in the house who had any real sympathy for me was
the nurse； for she had suffered like afflictions； though in a smaller degree；
as she had not the task of teaching； nor was she so responsible for the
conduct of her charge。
'Oh； Miss Grey！' she would say； 'you have some trouble with them
childer！'
'I have； indeed； Betty； and I daresay you know what it is。'
