作者：（英）夏洛蒂·勃朗特
出版社：航空工业出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
床头灯英语5000词纯英文：简·爱试读：
人物关系表
Jane Eyre 简·爱：本书女主角
Mrs. Reed 里德太太：简的舅母
Eliza 伊丽莎：简的表姐，里德太太的长女
John 约翰：简的表哥，里德太太的独子
Geogiana 乔治娜：简的表姐，里德太太的次女
Bessie 贝西：里德太太的管家女仆
Abbot 阿波特：里德太太的贴身女仆
Mr. Reed 里德先生：简的舅父，九年前逝世
Mr. Lloyd 劳埃特先生：药剂师兼给人看病
Mr. Brocklehurst 布寇赫斯先生：洛伍慈善学校（孤儿院）创建人的儿子，现掌管该校财务大权
Miss Miller 米勒小姐：该慈善学校老师
Miss Temple 邓波女士：该校学监兼主管
Helen Burns 海伦：该校学生，简的好友
Mrs. Fairfax 费尔福克斯太太：桑费尔德庄园的女管家
Mr. Edward Rochester 罗彻斯特：桑费尔德庄园的主人
Adèle Varens 阿黛拉：罗彻斯特的八岁养女
John 约翰：桑费尔德庄园的仆人兼马车夫
Leah 莉：桑费尔德庄园的女仆
Grace Poole 格雷丝：桑费尔德庄园的女仆
Céline Varens 色莱娜：法国舞蹈演员，罗彻斯特的情妇
Miss Blanche Ingram 英格兰曼小姐：罗彻斯特名誉上的未婚妻
Sam 山姆：桑费尔德庄园的男仆
Mr. Mason 梅森：罗彻斯特妻子的弟弟
Carter 卡特：外科医生
Robert Leaven 李文：里德太太的马车夫
John Eyre 约翰·爱：简的叔父
Sophie 苏菲：桑费尔德庄园的女仆
St. John Rivers 圣约翰：简的表兄(简的姑母之子)
Hannah： 圣约翰的女仆
Mary 玛丽：简的表姐(简的姑母之女)
Diana 黛安娜：简的表姐(简的姑母之女)
Bertha 贝莎：罗彻斯特之妻，梅森之姐
Mary 玛丽：罗彻斯特之女仆，男仆约翰之妻
故事梗概
《简·爱》是英国文学史中一部不朽的杰作。作者夏洛蒂·勃朗特（Charlotte Brontё）于1816年出生在英国北部荒原山村一个牧师家庭，自幼与兄妹五人过着清苦生活，不想日后这个家庭竟培养出震惊英国文坛的三位女作家，而夏洛蒂是三姐妹中最负盛誉的一位。她一生著有四部长篇小说及不少诗作；《简·爱》于1847年出版后，立即在伦敦引起巨大反响。本书主人公简·爱是个自幼父母双亡的孤女，婴儿时期由舅父母收养。不久舅父逝世，舅母及其子女对她百般欺凌虐待，她年幼瘦弱又孤立无援，但她不甘屈辱奋力与之抗争。十岁时，她被送到一处名为慈善学校实为孤儿院的地方，在那里度过八年凄苦艰难的岁月；她勇敢面对孤独、饥饿、疾病和繁重的体力劳动，而与此同时，她刻苦认真学习知识，坚持不懈地提高自己在品德方面的素质和修养。在完成六年的学习课程后，终于成长为一名合格的教师。
十八岁时她登报求职，离开该校到一座花园府邸给一个八岁女孩当家庭教师。在当时当地的所谓上流社会中，她只是一名不受重视的平凡受雇者，但她工作认真、待人真诚、行事稳重，不久就深得府邸女管家及庄园男主人的信任和尊重。而她在逐步理解男主人性格中正直善良的一面时，不自禁地对之产生了同情及爱意。在一次家宴中，她遇到了情敌——一位骄横高傲的富家女子。她明知自己在外貌及出身方面均处于弱势，但她坚信纯真的爱情远胜于贵族资产阶级的虚荣和伪善，从而她勇气倍增，自信只有自己才与品德高尚的男主人相互般配。在她以平等身份与他相爱并准备结婚时，意外地得知他的妻子仍然健在。尽管她难以割舍这份爱情，但她自尊自重，不屑充当情妇角色，毅然决然忍痛离开了所爱的人，独自踏上危机四伏，前途渺茫的路程。
在一望无际的荒原中流浪乞讨数日后，她终于来到一座农舍，得到农舍主人——三兄妹的救助。她虽在那里安顿下来，但不愿白白接受施舍，在身体康复后立刻自立谋生，在一所乡村女校任职。一年后一个偶然机会她收到叔父遗赠给她的一笔巨款，同时得知农舍主人的三兄妹原来是她姑母的子女。她珍视亲情远胜财物，故将叔父的遗赠平分，由四人分享。她的表兄是位教士，在他决定去印度传教前，恳求简与之结婚以便充当他传教工作的助手，但简鄙视那种没有爱情的婚姻而坚决予以拒绝。
实际上两年来，她无时不在牵挂自己真心爱恋的人，终因无法打听到他的消息，才决定亲自去趟庄园看个究竟。不意途中听说在一次火灾中，整座府邸已焚烧怠尽，成为一片废墟，庄园主人在大火中为救妻子身受重伤，而他的妻子从高处跳下堕楼身亡。简得知后，毫未犹豫立刻赶到肢体残缺、双目失明的爱人身边，在自立平等的情况下，终于与之缔结良缘。
本书是一部有自传成分的家庭伦理小说，一部杰出的现实主义作品。作者用回忆自述手法，讲述一个出身贫寒的年轻女子怎样与命运搏斗，怎样战胜坎坷的逆境；她对生活坚持积极进取态度，对爱情和婚姻遵循自尊自重自主的原则；这样独立自强、性格刚毅的女性，不仅在十九世纪的英国，在任何其他国家的现实社会及文学作品中也都是罕见的；更何况本书的思想内容与艺术形式与当时文艺界的传统意识具有全新的不同之处，故此百多年来，《简·爱》始终在全世界拥有广大读者，在世界文学宝库中占有重要的一席之地。前 言
◆英语是语言的帝国
全球60亿人中，有3.8亿人的母语是英语，2.5亿人的第二母语是英语，12.3亿人学习英语，33.6亿人和英语有关。全世界电视节目的75％、电子邮件的80％、网络的85％、软件源代码的100％都使用英语。40～50年后，全球将有50％的人精通英语。全球约有6000种语言，21世纪末其中的90％将消亡。届时英语作为主导语言的地位将进一步得到提升。
目前中国大约有4亿人在学英语，超过英国和美国的人口总和，这是中国努力与时代接轨、与国际接轨的一个重要标志，大量中国人熟练掌握国际通用语言是中华民族走向繁荣富强的必要保障。
◆全民学英语运动
中国近20年来兴起了一场轰轰烈烈的全民学英语的运动。其规模之大，范围之广，古今中外前所未有。
学生、教师、公务员、公司职员、商店店员、出租车司机等，各行各业，都在学英语。其学习过程的漫长，也令人感叹。从幼儿园、小学、中学、大学、硕士、博士，到毕业工作，出国，直至退休，一直都在学，英语的学习可谓是终生性的。
◆英语学了多年之后的尴尬
中国人学了多年英语之后，如果冷静地反省一下多年努力的成效，不难发现自己的英语水平令人十分尴尬。这里将具体表现列举一二。
●读任何原版的英语杂志，如Times（时代）、Newsweek（新闻周刊）、The Economists（经济学家），或者原版小说，如Jane Eyre（简·爱）、Gone with the Wind（飘）等，必须借助词典，因为我们随时都可能读不懂。即便查阅大部头的词典，我们常常还是不能理解文意，将文意理解得面目全非。最为可悲的是我们中很多人已经屈从于这种一知半解的阅读状态，甚至有人还荒唐地认为英语本身就是一门模模糊糊的语言，这样当然就更谈不上尝到读原汁原味英语的乐趣了。
●学习和探索专业知识的主流载体仍然是汉语。但我们必须清楚：整个现代科学体系基本是用英语来描述和表达的，译成汉语会有一定程度的失真，而且必然导致滞后。
●英语表达是一个更大的问题。主要体现在用英语写作以及用英语深入交谈上。事实上，大多数人只能用简单的英语来进行粗略的表述，无法顺利地参加国际学术会议或者进行国际贸易谈判。即便是学术水平很高的专家，在国际刊物上发表论文时，只能请仅懂英语不懂专业的人翻译。一篇在很多老外眼中不伦不类的论文就这样产生了。客观地讲，即使采用不太高的标准来衡量，在中国英语学习的失败率也应该在99％以上。
◆来自西方的教育理念
中国人读英语有个缺点，学习缺乏渐进性。他们习惯于读满篇都是生词的文章，以为这样“收获”才最大。结果他们的阅读不断地被查词典打断，一小时只能看两三页，读起来自然索然无味，最后只能作罢。这是中国人学英语的通病!读的文章几乎全部达到了语言学家所说的“frustration level”（使学生感到沮丧的程度）。
西方的语言学家和心理学家对英语学习者的阅读状况进行了大量的研究，结论令人非常吃惊：最适宜阅读的难度比我们长期所处的、我们所习惯的、我们头脑中定位的难度要低得多!只有文中生词量小到足以保证阅读的持续性时，语言吸收的效果才最好，语言水平的提高也最快。举个形象的例子：上山是从峭壁直接艰难攀登还是走平缓的盘山路好?显然，能够从峭壁登顶者寥寥无几!即使其能勉强成功，也远远落后于沿坦途行进者。
◆犹太民族的启示
曾经有人说：全世界的金钱装在美国人的口袋里，而美国人的金钱却装在犹太人的脑袋里。据统计，犹太人占世界总人口约0.3％，却掌握着世界经济命脉。在全世界最富有的企业家中，犹太人占50％以上。无论是过去和现在，在知名的经济巨头中犹太人占有绝对的比例。如第一个亿万巨富、石油大王洛克菲勒，“美国股神”巴菲特，华尔街的缔造者摩根，花旗集团董事长威尔，“打开个人计算机直销大门”的戴尔，坐在全球软件头把交椅“甲骨文公司”的艾利森，华纳电影公司创办人华纳，电影世界的领头羊斯皮尔伯格，他们都是犹太人。
犹太人成就的背后就是他们的噬书习惯。联合国教科文组织调查表明，全世界读书最多的民族是犹太民族。其中以色列在人均拥有图书和出版社以及每年人均读书的比例上，超过了世界上任何一个国家，成为世界之最，平均每人每年读书64本。与之反差很大的是中华民族，平均每人每年读书0.7本。这之中有阅读习惯的中国人虽占5％，却掌握着中国80％的财富。一句话，阅读，特别是经典名著的阅读，是一个人和民族崛起的最根本方法。
阅读不能改变人生的起点，但它可以改变人生的终点。不论出身高贵与卑贱，阅读都能改变人生的坐标和轨迹。
◆通往英语自由境界的阶梯
英语的自由境界指的是用英语自由地学习和工作；自由地阅读英文原版书刊和资料；自如地用英语表达和交流；自然地用英语进行思维；自主地用英语撰写论文和著作。
一个英语达到自由境界的人，他的生活也常常是令人羡慕的。清晨随手拿起一份国外的报纸或者杂志，一边喝着浓浓的咖啡，一边轻松、惬意地阅读。可以用英语自由地进行实质性的交谈和撰写书面材料。能够自由地在英文网页上荡漾，能够随时了解国外的最新科技动态或最新的商贸行情。自己的生存空间不再受到国界的限制，无论是交友、择偶，还是发展自己的事业，都有更宽的、跨国度的选择。
有一定英语基础的读者要想“修成正果”，达到英语的自由境界，最缺少的就是可读之书。市面上的英语读物粗粗看来似乎琳琅满目，但稍一细读就会发现这些语料要么是难度过低，词汇量只有一、两千词的相当于中学水平的简写本；要么是令人望而生畏、读之更是倍受挫折的原著，语料难度脱节甚至是“代沟”，严重地阻碍了英语中高级学习者对英语的掌握。床头灯英语5000词系列填补了这方面的空白，为读者打造了到达英语自由境界的阶梯。
◆本套读物的特色——真正适合中高级英语学习者的原汁原味英语读物
难度适中：本套读物用英语中核心5000词写成，对于难以理解之处均有注释，使你躺在床上不用翻词典就能顺利地读下去，在不知不觉中走向英语自由境界。
语言地道：美国作家执笔，用流畅的现代英语写成，并保留了原著的语言特色。
选材经典：皆为一生中不可不读的作品，读之可提高英语水平、积淀西方文化和提高人生境界。
情节曲折：让你徜徉在一个又一个迥异奇妙的书中世界。
……
◆“床头灯”英语系列读物的使用方法：
●整个床头灯系列包含儿童、中学生、3000词、5000词、6500词等不同层次。你可以选择不用查字典你就能保证阅读的持续性的级别进入，这个级别最少读30本，体会一下用英语读懂名著的感觉——英语形成语感、自信心增强。然后乘胜追击，读下一个级别的，每个级别读30本以上。
●使用床头灯英语学习读本（英汉对照版）练写作：看书中汉语部分，然后你试着翻译成英文，再把你翻译的英文与书上的英文对比。
本套读物是通向英语自由王国的钥匙，是通往英语最高境界的签证。在中国走向世界的道路上，英语水平决定工资水平！让每天阅读半小时“床头灯”成为你生活中的一部分。我相信这才是英语成功的真谛。
与股神巴菲特吃一顿午餐要花几百万美金，这使人们注意到了与名人交流的昂贵。而与比巴菲特更著名的大家近距离沟通，只需要去读“床头灯”。王若平 于北京Chapter 1
There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. The cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so gray, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out of the question. I was glad of it, I never liked long walks.
Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered round their mother in the drawing room, she lay on a sofa by the fire, with her darlings about her. Me, she had disallowed from joining the group saying, “She regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie that I was endeavoring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and bright manner, she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children.”
Consequently, I slipped into a small breakfastroom that adjoined the drawing room. It contained a bookcase, I soon possessed myself of a volume, taking care that it should be one stored with pictures. Unfortunately, my enjoyment of the book was soon interrupted when the breakfastroom door opened.
“Hello! Madam Sad-Face!” cried the voice of John Reed.
“What do you want?” I asked, with awkward shyness.
“Say,‘What do you want, Master Reed?’” was his answer. “I want you to come here.”
John Reed was a fourteen-year-old student; four years older than I, for I was but ten, large and stout for his age, with an unclean and unwholesome skin, thick features in a spacious face, heavy limbs and large extremities. He bullied and punished me continually. Every nerve I had feared him, and every inch of flesh in my bones shrank when he came near. Mrs. Reed never saw him strike or heard him abuse me, though he did both now and then in her very presence, more frequently, however, behind her back.
I came up to his chair: he spent some three minutes in thrusting out his tongue at me as far as he could without damaging the roots. All at once, without speaking, he struck me suddenly and strongly. I nearly fell, and, on regaining my balance, retired back a step or two from his chair.
“That is for your rudeness towards mother awhile ago,” said he, “and for the look you have been giving me since I came in here, you rat! What were you doing?” he asked.
“I was reading.”
“Show the book.”
I fetched it for him.
“You have no business to take our books; you are a dependant, mother says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mother's expense. Now, I'll teach you to rummage my bookshelves, for they are mine; all the house belongs to me, or will belong to me in a few years. Go and stand by the door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows.”
I did so, and saw him lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it. Soon the volume was flung. It hit me, and I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, the pain was sharp: my terror had passed its climax; other feelings succeeded.“Wicked and cruel boy!” I said. “You are like a murderer!”
He ran at me, I felt him grasp my hair and my shoulder. My fear suddenly left me and I received him in frantic sort. I don't very well know what I did with my hands, but he called me “Rat! Rat!” and bellowed out aloud. Mrs. Reed came upon the scene, followed by Bessie and her maid Abbot. We were parted, I heard the words,“Dear! dear! What a fury to fly at Master John!” Then Mrs. Reed said,“Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there.” Four hands were immediately laid upon me, and I was borne upstairs.
注释
so penetrating, that （雨）令人感到太冷，以至于…
penetrate［ˈpenitreit］ v. 刺透，渗透
clustered round 簇拥在周围
endeavoring in good earnest to acquire 认真努力获得
endeavo(u)r［inˈdevə］ vi.努力，endeavor to acquire 努力获取；in good earnest意思是“认真地、恳切地”，修饰动词endeavor
exclude me from privileges intend only for 免除我只给…的权利
exclude［iksˈkluːd］ n.排除
privilege［ˈprivilidʒ］ n. 特权
intended only for为过去分词短语做后置定语，意为“只打算给与…某人的”。
possess oneself of (something)使自己取得某物
taking care that it should be one stored with pictures 特意选了满是插图的一本。taking care that 在这里不是“小心照料”，而是“注意、特意或故意”的意思。it shoud be one中的it和one都指该书而言，stored with 是过去分词短语，修饰先行词one, 意即里面有很多图画的书。
Master Mister的缩写是Mr. 而Master没有缩写，有主人之意。一般用在名字前而不用在姓氏前，意“老爷”、“少爷”。
unwholesome skin 枯黄的皮肤。wholesome可指身心两方面的健康状态，unwholesome在这里形容肤色灰黄。
extremities［iksˈtremitis］ n.单数有末端之意，复数常指身体的四肢手足
shrink［ʃriŋk］ vi. 收缩
saw him strike or heard him abuse me 看见他打我，听到他骂我。在感观动词saw及heard后用动词原形abuse做宾语补语。
in her very presence in one's presence. very为形容词，强调“就当着她的面”。
as far as he could 尽可能
on regaining my balance 当我重新站稳时
balance［ˈbæləns］ n. 平衡
retired back退却
we do 和我们吃的一样，at sb's expense是个状语短语，修饰动词wear, expense花费，at one's expense由某人付钱。
rummage［ˈrʌmidʒ］ vt. 翻找，搜查
lift and poise 举起书摆出一种姿式
stand in act to hurl it. 立时将书向我投掷过来。
bleed［bliːd］ v. 流血或出血；bled是过去时
climax［ˈklaimæks］ n. 顶点
passed its climax 超过顶点，climax 常指戏剧或小说中，情节逐渐达到的高潮
I felt him grasp my hair 我感到他在紧抓我的头发
in frantic sort 达到狂怒的程度
fly at sb. 对某人攻击或辱骂
I was borne upstairs 我被拉扯到楼上去。borne是bear［bεə］ 的过去分词Chapter 2
I resisted all the way, a new thing for me, and a circumstance which greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me.
“For shame!For shame!” cried the lady's maid. “What shocking conduct, Miss Eyre, to strike a young gentleman, Madame's son! Your young master.”
“Master!How is he my master? Am I a servant?” I asked.
“No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep.”
They had got me by this time into the apartment indicated by Mrs. Reed. Addressing me, Bessie said, “You ought to be aware, Miss, that you are under obligations to Mrs. Reed, she keeps you, if she were to kick you out, you would have to go to the orphanage.”I had nothing to say to these words: they were not new to me, my very first recollections of existence included hints of the same kind.
Miss Abbot joined in, “And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Madame kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none, it is your place to be humble, and to try to make yourself agreeable to them.”
They went, shutting the door, and locking it behind them.
The red-room was a square chamber, very seldom slept in. I might say never, indeed, for it had been the room in which Mr. Reed had passed away nine years ago. Now no one, except for Mrs. Reed and an occasional servant, would ever enter.
I was not quite sure whether they had locked the door; and when I dared move, I got up and went to see. Alas, ever more secure. I returned to my stool. My blood was still warm. All John Reed's violent cruelty, all his sisters' proud indifference, all his mother's avoidance, all the servants' partiality, turned up in my disturbed mind. Why was I always suffering, always criticized, always accused, forever condemned?
“Unjust!Unjust!” said my reason. I wanted to escape somehow, and if that were not possible, then I would be willing to never eat or drink again in order to die. Then I could be buried in the tomb near where Mr. Reed was buried. I could not remember him; but I knew that he was my own uncle — my mother's brother — that he had taken me when I was a parentless infant to his house; and that in his last moments he had required a promise of Mrs. Reed that she would rear and maintain me as one of her own children.
I began to recall what I had heard of dead men, troubled in their graves by the violation of their last wishes, revisiting the earth to punish the bad and avenge the oppressed. At this moment a light gleamed on the wall. While I gazed, it glided up to the ceiling and quivered over my head. Most likely, it was a gleam from a lantern carried by someone across the lawn, but at the time, prepared as my mind was for horror, I believed that it meant a ghost was coming. My heart beat thick, my head grew hot; I rushed to the door and shook the lock in desperate effort. Steps came running along the outer passage; the key turned, Bessie and Abbot entered, along with Mrs. Reed.
“Miss Eyre, are you ill?” said Bessie.
“Oh aunt! Have pity! Take me out! Let me go into the nursery!”was my cry. “Oh! I saw a light, and I thought a ghost would come.”
“Child, you cannot succeed in getting out by these means, be assured. I hate it when children lie. You will now stay here an hour longer, and it is only on condition that you obey perfectly that I shall liberate you then.”
Mrs. Reed, impatient of my wild sobs, abruptly thrust me back and locked me in, without further discussion. I heard them walking away; and after they were gone, I supposed that the scene was thus closed while I was losing my consciousness.
注释
were disposed to entertain of me 倾向于对我抱有成见。
for your keep 为了养活你。名词keep有衣食之意，如“He tries to earn his keep” 他力图维持自己的生计。
addressing me 对我说。现在分词 addressing 是谓语said的伴随动作。
under obligations 受某人恩惠
if she were... you would... 如果她现在…你就…虚拟语气，have to go... 有不得不之意。
orphanage［ˈɔːfənidʒ］ n.孤儿院
my very first recollections 早年的记忆
of existence 生存、生活。如to lead a wealthy existence 过一种富裕生活。
to be brought up 被培养、扶养成长，是to bring up的被动语态。
your place to be humble 你的身份本该是谦卑的。
very seldom slept in 很少有人在里面住。to be slept in 被动语态。
the room in which 在那间屋里
Alas, ever more secure牢固或坚不可破。感叹词alas表示悲伤失望，ever起加强语气作用。
turned up in my disturbed mind 在我被搅乱了的心中出现。
suffering 忍受痛苦。现代分词表示主动的感觉，而criticized 受批评，accused 被指责，condemned 被定罪，三个过去分词都表示被动语态。
if that were 万一不可能。是现在时虚拟语气。
would rear and maintain me 愿意养育供养我。
the violation of their last wishes 违背他们最后的心愿。
violation［ˌvaiəˈ leiʃən］ n.违背的行为
the oppressed 受迫害者。the用于形容词或分词之前，是指同一类人而言，如the old 老年人，the rich 富人。
quiver［ˈkwivə］ v. 颤动
most likely 很可能，也可作the likeliest
prepared as my mind was for horror 我心中已对恐怖事件有所准备。prepared 放在句首可起强调语气的作用，有早就做好准备之意。
my heart beat thick, my head grew hot 我心跳加速，头脑发热。重叠同样句型不仅加强渲染气氛而且生动地表达出作者的感受，是有效的描述手法。
in desperate effort 拼命使劲
nursery［ˈnəːsəri］ n. 儿童专用房间
by these means 用这些手段或方法
be assured 请放心吧
on condition that you obey perfectly 在你完全服从的条件下。that是连接词，引导一个同位语从句，用来说明condition条件的内容。
liberate you 把你释放
the scene 场景或当众吵架的场面，有此字的双重含义
consciousness［ˈkɔnʃəsnis］ n.知觉Chapter 3
The next thing I remembered was waking up with a feeling as if I had had a frightful nightmare, and seeing before me a terrible red glare, crossed with thick black bars. In five minutes more the cloud of bewilderment dissolved. I knew quite well that I was in my own bed, and that the red glare was the nursery fire. It was night, a candle burnt on the table; Bessie stood at the foot of the bed with a basin in her hand, and a gentleman sat in a chair near my pillow, leaning over me. I felt an inexpressible relief, a soothing conviction of protection and security, when I knew that there was a stranger in the room, an individual not belonging to Mrs. Reed.
I looked closely at the face of the gentleman: I knew him; it was Mr. Lloyd, a pharmacist, sometimes called in by Mrs. Reed when the servants were ill. For herself and the children she employed a physician.
“Well, who am I?” he asked.
I pronounced his name, offering him at the same time my hand, he took it, smiling and saying, “We shall do very well by and by.” Then he laid me down, and addressing Bessie, charged her to be very careful that I was not disturbed during the night. Having given some further directions, and intimated that he should call again the next day, he departed, to my grief.
“Bessie, what is the matter with me? Am I ill?”
“You fell sick, I suppose, in the red-room with crying; you'll be better soon, no doubt.” Next day, by noon, I was up and dressed, and sat wrapped in a shawl by the nursery hearth. I felt physically weak and broken down, but my worse ailment was an unspeakable wretchedness of mind, a wretchedness which kept drawing from me silent tears; no sooner had I wiped one salty drop from my cheek than another followed.
In the course of the morning, Mr. Lloyd came again.“What, already up!” said he, as he entered the nursery. “Well, nurse, how is she?”
Bessie answered that I was doing very well.
“Then she ought to look more cheerful. Come here, Miss Jane, your name is Jane, is it not?”
“Yes, sir, Jane Eyre.”
“Well, you have been crying, Miss Jane Eyre; can you tell me what about?”
Just then a loud bell rang for the servants' dinner, he knew what it was. “That's for you, nurse,” said he to Bessie: “you can go down, I'll give Miss Jane a lecture till you come back.”
When Bessie was gone he turned to me and asked, “Now, what made you ill?”
How much I wished to reply fully to this question! How difficult it was to frame any answer!
“I am unhappy — very unhappy. John Reed knocked me down, and my aunt shut me up in the red-room.”
“I see. Are you not very thankful to have such a fine place to live at?”
“If I had anywhere else to go, I should be glad to leave it; but I can never get away from Gateshead.”
“Perhaps you may — who knows? Have you any relations besides Mrs. Reed?”
“Aunt Reed says if I have any, they must be beggars， I should not like to go begging.”
“Would you like to go to school?”
I thought about it for a moment. School would be a complete change, it implied a long journey, an entire separation from Gateshead life.
“I should indeed like to go to school,” I finally answered.
“Well, well! Who knows what may happen?” said Mr. Lloyd, as he got up.
Bessie now returned. At the same moment the carriage was heard rolling up the gravel-walk.
“Is that your mistress, nurse?” asked Mr. Lloyd. “I should like to speak to her before I go.”
Judging from what happened later, it seemed that the pharmacist suggested sending me away to school, and, of course, Mrs. Reed completely agreed. A few nights later, I overheard Bessie and Abbot talking about how happy Madame would be to be rid of me.
注释
as if I had had... 好像是…似地。是个典型的虚拟语态的状语从句。
a terrible red glare, crossed with...一片可怕的红光中间横穿…crossed with省略了主谓结构的被动语态定语从句。
the cloud of bewilderment 迷困之雾
dissolve［diˈzɔlv］ v. 消失
leaning over me 向前朝我屈身倾斜。现在分词短语，做状语，是主句中谓语sat 的陪伴动作。
I felt an inexpressible relief 我感到一种难以表述的安慰。
a soothing conviction of protection and security 进一步表明relief的内涵，是很精确的修词法，深刻表现出作者当时的心情。
pharmacist［ˈfɑːməsist］ n. 药剂师
physician［fiˈziʃən］ n. 正式的内科医生
charged her to be very careful 令她多加小心。that是引导一个状语从句的连接词，表示责令之目的。
intimate［intimit］ vt. 告知；adj. 亲密的。
sat wrapped in a shawl 披着围巾坐在那里。过去分词 wrapped （裹着）是sat的陪伴状态，是被动语态。
physically weak 身体方面的虚弱无力
ailment［ˈeilment］ n. 小病，病痛
wretchedness of mind 精神上的痛苦
another followed 接着又是一滴
then she ought to look more cheerful. 那么她就该显得高兴点啊。表示她并非如此。
give... a lecture 教训、开导
how much... how differcult... 我多么想…多么难…。一连两个感叹句充分表达出小女孩的急切困扰心情，是很好的写作手法。
if I had... I should be glad... 如果我有…我当然愿意。是虚拟语态表示目前情况。
perhaps you may 也许你能
relations［riˈleiʃəns］ n. 亲戚，美式英语多为relatives
Aunt 舅妈根据实际情况也可译成“姑妈、姨妈、伯母，婶母”。
if I have any, they must be beggars 既使我有…他们也一定是要饭的。if没有“如果”之意，因此不是虚拟语态，must be也非“必须是”之意，而是主观的估计。
imply［imˈplai］ vt. 含有
who knows what may happen? 谁知道将来的事呢？虽是一句简单的问话，但饱含劳埃特先生对女孩的热情关怀和对美好未来的期盼，是个好句。
overhear 无意中听到
to be rid of me 把我摆脱掉Chapter 4
From my discourse with Mr. Lloyd, and from the above reported conference between Bessie and Abbot, I gathered enough of hope to suffice as a motive for wishing to get well. A change seemed near — I desired and waited it in silence. It delayed, however, November, December, and half of January passed away. Christmas and the New Year had been celebrated at Gateshead in festive cheer; presents had been interchanged, dinners and evening parties given. And from every enjoyment I was, of course, excluded.
It was the fifteenth of January, about nine o'clock in the morning when I saw the outside gates thrown open and a carriage roll through. I watched it ascending the drive with indifference; carriages often came to Gateshead but none ever brought visitors in whom I was interested; it stopped in front of the house, the doorbell rang loudly, the newcomer was admitted.
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