第36部分(第4/7 页)

y；　and　in　hers　I　see　all　the　faults　of　her　class。”

“What　are　they；　madam？”　inquired　Mr。　Rochester　aloud。

“I　will　tell　you　in　your　private　ear；”　replied　she；　wagging　her　turban　three　times　with　portentous　significancy。

“But　my　curiosity　will　be　past　its　appetite；　it　craves　food　now。”

“Ask　Blanche；　she　is　nearer　you　than　I。”

“Oh；　don’t　refer　him　to　me；　mama！　I　have　just　one　word　to　say　of　the　whole　tribe；　they　are　a　nuisance。　Not　that　I　ever　suffered　much　from　them；　I　took　care　to　turn　the　tables。　What　tricks　Theodore　and　I　used　to　play　on　our　Miss　Wilsons；　and　Mrs。　Greys；　and　Madame　Jouberts！　Mary　was　always　too　sleepy　to　join　in　a　plot　with　spirit。　The　best　fun　was　with　Madame　Joubert：　Miss　Wilson　was　a　poor　sickly　thing；　lachrymose　and　low…spirited；　not　worth　the　trouble　of　vanquishing；　in　short；　and　Mrs。　Grey　was　coarse　and　insensible；　no　blow　took　effect　on　her。　But　poor　Madame　Joubert！　I　see　her　yet　in　her　raging　passions；　when　we　had　driven　her　to　extremities—spilt　our　tea；　crumbled　our　bread　and　butter；　tossed　our　books　up　to　the　ceiling；　and　played　a　charivari　with　the　ruler　and　desk；　the　fender　and　fire…irons。　Theodore；　do　you　remember　those　merry　days？”

“Yaas；　to　be　sure　I　do；”　drawled　Lord　Ingram；　“and　the　poor　old　stick　used　to　cry　out　‘Oh　you　villains　childs！’—and　then　we　sermonised　her　on　the　presumption　of　attempting　to　teach　such　clever　blades　as　we　were；　when　she　was　herself　so　ignorant。”

“We　did；　and；　Tedo；　you　know；　I　helped　you　in　prosecuting　（or　persecuting）　your　tutor；　whey…faced　Mr。　Vining—the　parson　in　the　pip；　as　we　used　to　call　him。　He　and　Miss　Wilson　took　the　liberty　of　falling　in　love　with　each　other—at　least　Tedo　and　I　thought　so；　we　surprised　sundry　tender　glances　and　sighs　which　we　interprete