第20部分(第1/7 頁)

I　repeated　the　question　more　distinctly。

“Miss　Fairfax？　Oh；　you　mean　Miss　Varens！　Varens　is　the　name　of　your　future　pupil。”

“Indeed！　Then　she　is　not　your　daughter？”

“No；—I　have　no　family。”

I　should　have　followed　up　my　first　inquiry；　by　asking　in　what　way　Miss　Varens　was　connected　with　her；　but　I　recollected　it　was　not　polite　to　ask　too　many　questions：　besides；　I　was　sure　to　hear　in　time。

“I　am　so　glad；”　she　continued；　as　she　sat　down　opposite　to　me；　and　took　the　cat　on　her　knee；　“I　am　so　glad　you　are　e；　it　will　be　quite　pleasant　living　here　now　with　a　panion。　To　be　sure　it　is　pleasant　at　any　time；　for　Thornfield　is　a　fine　old　hall；　rather　neglected　of　late　years　perhaps；　but　still　it　is　a　respectable　place；　yet　you　know　in　winter…time　one　feels　dreary　quite　alone　in　the　best　quarters。　I　say　alone—Leah　is　a　nice　girl　to　be　sure；　and　John　and　his　wife　are　very　decent　people；　but　then　you　see　they　are　only　servants；　and　one　can’t　converse　with　them　on　terms　of　equality：　one　must　keep　them　at　due　distance；　for　fear　of　losing　one’s　authority。　I’m　sure　last　winter　（it　was　a　very　severe　one；　if　you　recollect；　and　when　it　did　not　snow；　it　rained　and　blew）；　not　a　creature　but　the　butcher　and　postman　came　to　the　house；　from　November　till　February；　and　I　really　got　quite　melancholy　with　sitting　night　after　night　alone；　I　had　Leah　in　to　read　to　me　sometimes；　but　I　don’t　think　the　poor　girl　liked　the　task　much：　she　felt　it　confining。　In　spring　and　summer　one　got　on　better：　sunshine　and　long　days　make　such　a　difference；　and　then；　just　at　the　mencement　of　this　autumn；　little　Adela　Varens　came　and　her　nurse：　a　child　makes　a　house　alive　all　at　once；　and　now　you　are　here　I　shall　be　quite　gay。”

My　heart　really　warmed　to　the　worthy　lady　as　I　he