CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: St. John’s Secret_简爱 3000词能听懂英文名著_免费在线阅读收听下载

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: St. John’s Secret

I had twenty village girls to teach. Some of them spoke in such a strong, country speech that I could barely understand them. Their words did not seem like the English language. Only three of the girls could read, and none could write. At the end of my first day, I knew there would be much hard work to do. But I told myself that I was lucky to have any kind of work. “Besides, these are good girls, and they want to learn, just like I did when I was their age,” I thought.

Ever since I had left Thornfield I had thought of Mr. Rochester every day and night. That evening, I stood at the door of my house, looking at the sunset and the quiet fields. I allowed myself to imagine again the life I could have had with Mr. Rochester. He would have loved me very much for a while. “He did love me,” I thought, “nobody will ever love me like that again.” But I knew that I would only have been his mistress, not his wife. One day, he would have become tired of me. In time, I would be happier here as a schoolteacher. I would be alone, but at least I would be honest.

But when he came to visit me, St. John Rivers found me crying. He asked me.

“Are you sorry you took this job?”

“Oh no,” I said, “I know I will enjoy it. And I’m so grateful to have a home, and work to do. A few weeks ago, I had nothing.”

“But perhaps you are lonely,” he said.

I’m not lonely yet, and I’m sure I’ll be very busy with my work.”

“Well, I think you should work hard. Don’t think about your past. A year ago. I was unhappy also. The quiet life in the country was boring to me, and I thought about changing my work. Suddenly I realized that God had an answer for me. He was telling me to be a missionary! No work is greater than that! Since then, I have been happy, getting ready to leave England and traveling around the world, serving God. But … I do have one human problem. I have promised God I will overcome this problem in my life.”

I was listening to him so closely that I did not hear the sounds of someone walking nearby. “Good evening, Mr. Rivers!” said a sweet voice. St. John jumped up, and then turned slowly to face the person. A girl dressed in white was standing there. When she took off her hat, we saw her beautiful face. St. John’s face turned red, and he looked at the ground as he said, “It is a lovely evening, but isn’t it late for you to be outside alone?”

“Oh. Father told me there was a new girls’ school, and I just had to see it! I wanted to meet the new teacher. That must be you,” she said to me, smiling. “Do you like your little house, and the students?” I knew that this must be Miss Oliver, who had paid for the furniture in my house.

“Oh, yes, Miss Oliver. I think I’ll like teaching here, and the house is lovely, thank you,” I said.

“If you like, I’ll come and help you teach sometimes. Oh, Mr. Rivers, I am so tired! I was visiting friends, and I was out dancing until two o’clock this morning! How fun!”

St. John looked stra

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: St. John’s Secret

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: St. John’s Secret

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