阅读理解
As we drove along, my spirits went up again, and I turned,
with pleasure, to the thought of the new life which I was entering. But though
it was not far past the middle of September, the heavy clouds and strong
north-easterly wind combined to make the day extremely cold; and the journey
seemed a very long one, so that it was nearly one o'clock before we reached the
place of our destination. Yet when we entered the gateway, my heart failed me,
and I wished it were a mile or two farther off. For the first time in my life I
must stand alone: there was no retreating now. I must enter that house, and
introduce myself among its strange people. But how was it to be done? True, I
was near nineteen; but, thanks to the protecting care of my mother and sister,
I well knew that many a girl of fifteen, or under, was gifted with a more
womanly address, and greater ease and self-possession, than I was. Yet, anyway.
I would do very well, after all; and the children, of course, I should soon be
at ease with them.
"Be calm, be calm, whatever happens," I said
within myself; and truly I was so fully occupied in steadying my nerves and
keeping down the rebellious beat of my heart that when I was admitted into the
hall and into the presence of Mrs. Bloomfield, I almost forgot to answer her
polite greeting; and it afterwards struck me that the little I did say was
spoken in the tone of one half-dead or half-asleep.
With due politeness, however, she showed me my bedroom, and
left me there to take a little refreshment for a little while and led me into
the dining-room. Some beefsteaks and potatoes were set before me; and while I
dined upon these, she sat opposite, watching me (as I thought) and trying to
keep something like a conversation— consisting chiefly of commonplace remarks.
In fact, my attention was almost wholly absorbed in my dinner: not from
appetite, but from the toughness of the beefsteaks, and the numbness of my
hands.
“I have had so little time to attend to their education
myself, but I think they are clever children, and very willing to learn,
especially the little boy; he is, I think, the flower of the flock— a generous,
noble-spirited boy, one to be led, but not driven, and remarkable for always
speaking the truth.” “His sister Mary Ann will require watching,” continued
she, “but she is a very good girl on the whole, though I wish her to be kept
out of the nursery as much as possible, as she is now almost six years old, and
might acquire bad habits from the nurses. I have ordered her bed to be placed
in your room, and if you will be so kind as to look after her washing and
dressing, and take charge of her clothes, she needs to have nothing further to
do with the nursery maid.”
I replied I was quite willing to do so; and at that moment
the children entered the room. Tom Bloomfield was a well-grown boy of seven.
Mary was a tall girl, for her age of six, somewhat dark like her mother. The
second sister was Fanny, a very pretty little girl, looking little younger than
Mary. The remaining one was Harriet, a little broad, fat, merry, playful thing
of scarcely two, whom I had more desire for than all the rest — but with her I
had nothing to do.
