第70部分(第6/7 页)

ose　so　honest。　First；　then；　tell　me　what　you　have　been　accustomed　to　do；　and　what　you　can　do。”

I　had　now　swallowed　my　tea。　I　was　mightily　refreshed　by　the　beverage；　as　much　so　as　a　giant　with　wine：　it　gave　new　tone　to　my　unstrung　nerves；　and　enabled　me　to　address　this　perating　young　judge　steadily。

“Mr。　Rivers；”　I　said；　turning　to　him；　and　looking　at　him；　as　he　looked　at　me；　openly　and　without　diffidence；　“you　and　your　sisters　have　done　me　a　great　service—the　greatest　man　can　do　his　fellow…　being；　you　have　rescued　me；　by　your　noble　hospitality；　from　death。　This　benefit　conferred　gives　you　an　unlimited　claim　on　my　gratitude；　and　a　claim；　to　a　certain　extent；　on　my　confidence。　I　will　tell　you　as　much　of　the　history　of　the　wanderer　you　have　harboured；　as　I　can　tell　without　promising　my　own　peace　of　mind—my　own　security；　moral　and　physical；　and　that　of　others。

“I　am　an　orphan；　the　daughter　of　a　clergyman。　My　parents　died　before　I　could　know　them。　I　was　brought　up　a　dependant；　educated　in　a　charitable　institution。　I　will　even　tell　you　the　name　of　the　establishment；　where　I　passed　six　years　as　a　pupil；　and　two　as　a　teacher—Lowood　Orphan　Asylum；—shire：　you　will　have　heard　of　it；　Mr。　Rivers？—the　Rev。　Robert　Brocklehurst　is　the　treasurer。”

“I　have　heard　of　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　and　I　have　seen　the　school。”

“I　left　Lowood　nearly　a　year　since　to　bee　a　private　governess。　I　obtained　a　good　situation；　and　was　happy。　This　place　I　was　obliged　to　leave　four　days　before　I　came　here。　The　reason　of　my　departure　I　cannot　and　ought　not　to　explain：　it　would　be　useless；　dangerous；　and　would　sound　incredible。　No　blame　attached　to　me：　I　am　as　free　from　culpability　as　any　one　of　you　three。　Miserable　I　am；　and　must　be　for　a　time；　for　the　catastrophe　which　drove　me　fr