Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

I believe she was envious; and now she and her sister lead a cat and dog life together; they are always quarrelling – ’

�Well, and what of John Reed?’

�Oh, he is not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went to college, and he got – plucked, I think they call it; and then his uncles wanted him to be a barrister, and study the law; but he is such a dissipated young man, they will never make much of him, I think.’

�What does he look like?’

�He is very tall; some people call him a fine-looking young man; but he has such thick lips.

�And Mrs. Reed?’

�Missis looks stout and well enough in the face, but I think she’s not quite easy in her mind. Mr. John’s conduct does not please her – he spends a deal of money.’

�Did she send you here, Bessie?’

�No, indeed; but I have long wanted to see you, and when I heard that there had been a letter from you, and that you were going to another part of the country, I thought I’d just set off, and get a look at you before you were quite out of my reach.

�I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie.’ I said this laughing; I perceived that Bessie’s glance, though it expressed regard, did in no shape denote admiration.

�No, Miss Jane, not exactly. You are genteel enough; you look like a lady, and it is as much as ever I expected of you. You were no beauty as a child.’

I smiled at Bessie’s frank answer. I felt that it was correct, but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import.

�I dare say you are clever, though,’ continued Bessie, by way of solace. �What can you do? Can you play on the piano?’

�A little.’

There was one in the room; Bessie went and opened it, and then asked me to sit down and give her a tune.

�The Miss Reeds could not play as well!’ said she exultingly. �I always said you would surpass them in learning; and can you draw?’

�That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.’ It was a landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the superintendent, in acknowledgement of her obliging mediation with the committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed.