agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第20章
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was I initiated； than she made me useful in twenty different ways： all the
tedious parts of her work were shifted on to my shoulders； such as
stretching the frames； stitching in the canvas； sorting the wools and silks；
putting in the grounds； counting the stitches； rectifying mistakes； and
finishing the pieces she was tired of。
At sixteen； Miss Murray was something of a romp； yet not more so
than is natural and allowable for a girl of that age； but at seventeen； that
propensity； like all other things； began to give way to the ruling passion；
and soon was swallowed up in the all… absorbing ambition to attract and
dazzle the other sex。 But enough of her： now let us turn to her sister。
Miss Matilda Murray was a veritable hoyden； of whom little need be
said。 She was about two years and a half younger than her sister； her
features were larger； her complexion much darker。 She might possibly
make a handsome woman； but she was far too big…boned and awkward
ever to be called a pretty girl； and at present she cared little about it。
Rosalie knew all her charms； and thought them even greater than they
were； and valued them more highly than she ought to have done； had they
been three times as great； Matilda thought she was well enough； but cared
little about the matter； still less did she care about the cultivation of her
mind； and the acquisition of ornamental accomplishments。 The manner
in which she learnt her lessons and practised her music was calculated to
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drive any governess to despair。 Short and easy as her tasks were； if done
at all； they were slurred over； at any time and in any way； but generally at
the least convenient times； and in the way least beneficial to herself； and
least satisfactory to me： the short half…hour of practising was horribly
strummed through； she； meantime； unsparingly abusing me； either for
interrupting her with corrections； or for not rectifying her mistakes before
they were made； or something equally unreasonable。 Once or twice； I
ventured to remonstrate with her seriously for such irrational conduct； but
on each of those occasions； I received such reprehensive expostulations
from her mother； as convinced me that； if I wished to keep the situation； I
must even let Miss Matilda go on in her own way。
When her lessons were over； however； her ill…humour was generally
over too： while riding her spirited pony； or romping with the dogs or her
brothers and sister； but especially with her dear brother John； she was as
happy as a lark。 As an animal； Matilda was all right； full of life； vigour；
and activity； as an intelligent being； she was barbarously ignorant； indocile；
careless and irrational； and； consequently； very distressing to one who had
the task of cultivating her understanding； reforming her manners； and
aiding her to acquire those ornamental attainments which； unlike her sister；
she despised as much as the rest。 Her mother was partly aware of her
deficiencies； and gave me many a lecture as to how I should try to form
her tastes； and endeavour to rouse and cherish her dormant vanity； and； by
insinuating； skilful flattery； to win her attention to the desired objects …
which I would not do； and how I should prepare and smooth the path of
learning till she could glide along it without the least exertion to herself：
which I could not； for nothing can be taught to any purpose without some
little exertion on the part of the learner。
As a moral agent； Matilda was reckless； headstrong； violent； and
unamenable to reason。 One proof of the deplorable state of her mind was；
that from her father's example she had learned to swear like a trooper。
Her mother was greatly shocked at the 'unlady…like trick；' and wondered
'how she had picked it up。' 'But you can soon break her of it； Miss Grey；'
said she： 'it is only a habit； and if you will just gently remind her every
time she does so； I am sure she will soon lay it aside。' I not only 'gently
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reminded' her； I tried to impress upon her how wrong it was； and how
distressing to the ears of decent people： but all in vain： I was only
answered by a careless laugh； and； 'Oh； Miss Grey； how shocked you are！
I'm so glad！' or； 'Well！ I can't help it； papa shouldn't have taught me： I
learned it all from him； and maybe a bit from the coachman。'
Her brother John； ALIAS Master Murray； was about eleven when I
came： a fine； stout； healthy boy； frank and good…natured in the main； and
might have been a decent lad had he been properly educated； but now he
was as rough as a young bear； boisterous； unruly； unprincipled； untaught；
unteachable … at least； for a governess under his mother's eye。 His
masters at school might be able to manage him better … for to school he
was sent； greatly to my relief； in the course of a year； in a state； it is true；
of scandalous ignorance as to Latin； as well as the more useful though
more neglected things： and this； doubtless； would all be laid to the
account of his education having been entrusted to an ignorant female
teacher； who had presumed to take in hand what she was wholly
incompetent to perform。 I was not delivered from his brother till full
twelve months after； when he also was despatched in the same state of
disgraceful ignorance as the former。
Master Charles was his mother's peculiar darling。 He was little more
than a year younger than John； but much smaller； paler； and less active and
robust； a pettish； cowardly； capricious； selfish little fellow； only active in
doing mischief； and only clever in inventing falsehoods： not simply to
hide his faults； but； in mere malicious wantonness； to bring odium upon
others。 In fact； Master Charles was a very great nuisance to me： it was
a trial of patience to live with him peaceably； to watch over him was
worse； and to teach him； or pretend to teach him； was inconceivable。 At
ten years old； he could not read correctly the easiest line in the simplest
book； and as； according to his mother's principle； he was to be told every
word； before he had time to hesitate or examine its orthography； and never
even to be informed； as a stimulant to exertion； that other boys were more
forward than he； it is not surprising that he made but little progress during
the two years I had charge of his education。 His minute portions of Latin
grammar； &c。； were to be repeated over to him； till he chose to say he
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knew them； and then he was to be helped to say them； if he made mistakes
in his little easy sums in arithmetic； they were to be shown him at once；
and the sum done for him； instead of his being lef
