《简爱》英文版 24

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PART THREE - A YOUNG WOMAN AT THORNFIELD
CHAPTER SEVEN   Mr. Rochester

The house where I was to work was called Thornfield. It was a large house in the country. After a day's journey, I arrived at the house. Mrs. Fairfax, who came out to meet me, was a little old lady. She seemed happy to have someone to talk to. The house was dark and cold, with large rooms full of beautiful, expensive furniture. It was not a very comforting house. But I was excited to live there, working for kind Mrs. Fairfax.
However, I soon discovered Mrs. Fairfax was not the house's owner, as I had thought. She was only a servant. Thornfield belonged to a man named Mr. Rochester, who was not at home when I arrived. My pupil was a girl named Adele, who was seven or eight years old. Mr. Rochester had taken Adele to live with him, after her mother had died. She was French, and could not speak English. But I had learned French at Lowood, so I could speak to Adele. She was a pretty, happy child who liked to play with dolls and toys. I taught her English and other subjects for two hours every day in the library. It was difficult to make her study, because she had never had school lessons before.
A little time passed, and Mr. Rochester still had not come home. One day I decided to ask Mrs. Fairfax some questions about him. I was very curious to know what kind of man he was, and Mrs. Fairfax was happy to talk.

"Do people like him?" was my first question.
"Oh,yes!He comes from a rich family that is very respected.They had lived here for many years."she said.
"But do you like him?What kind of person is him?"
"Well,I have always liked him.He is a fair and good man to his servants.He is a little strange though,he has travelled to many countries and knows a lot of things.I think he is a very strange man."she said.
"What do you mean'strange'?"I asked interested.
"It's not easy to describe.I never know when he is serious or joking with me.He is very mistery,and his life has been full of adventure and travel.Although I know him well,I understand him only a little.But he is a good man and a good master. "