第47部分(第3/7 页)

r　at　Lowood？　The　fever　broke　out　there；　and　many　of　the　pupils　died。　She；　however；　did　not　die：　but　I　said　she　did—I　wish　she　had　died！”

“A　strange　wish；　Mrs。　Reed；　why　do　you　hate　her　so？”

“I　had　a　dislike　to　her　mother　always；　for　she　was　my　husband’s　only　sister；　and　a　great　favourite　with　him：　he　opposed　the　family’s　disowning　her　when　she　made　her　low　marriage；　and　when　news　came　of　her　death；　he　wept　like　a　simpleton。　He　would　send　for　the　baby；　though　I　entreated　him　rather　to　put　it　out　to　nurse　and　pay　for　its　maintenance。　I　hated　it　the　first　time　I　set　my　eyes　on　it—a　sickly；　whining；　pining　thing！　It　would　wail　in　its　cradle　all　night　long—not　screaming　heartily　like　any　other　child；　but　whimpering　and　moaning。　Reed　pitied　it；　and　he　used　to　nurse　it　and　notice　it　as　if　it　had　been　his　own：　more；　indeed；　than　he　ever　noticed　his　own　at　that　age。　He　would　try　to　make　my　children　friendly　to　the　little　beggar：　the　darlings　could　not　bear　it；　and　he　was　angry　with　them　when　they　showed　their　dislike。　In　his　last　illness；　he　had　it　brought　continually　to　his　bedside；　and　but　an　hour　before　he　died；　he　bound　me　by　vow　to　keep　the　creature。　I　would　as　soon　have　been　charged　with　a　pauper　brat　out　of　a　workhouse：　but　he　was　weak；　naturally　weak。　John　does　not　at　all　resemble　his　father；　and　I　am　glad　of　it：　John　is　like　me　and　like　my　brothers—he　is　quite　a　Gibson。　Oh；　I　wish　he　would　cease　tormenting　me　with　letters　for　money？　I　have　no　more　money　to　give　him：　we　are　getting　poor。　I　must　send　away　half　the　servants　and　shut　up　part　of　the　house；　or　let　it　off。　I　can　never　submit　to　do　that—yet　how　are　we　to　get　on？　Two…thirds　of　my　ine　goes　in　paying　the　interest　of　mortgages。　John　gambles　dreadfully；　and　always　loses—poor　boy！　He　is　beset　by　sharper