Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

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I heard her with wonder. I could not comprehend this doctrine of endurance; and still less could I understand or sympathise with the forbearance she expressed for her chastiser. Still I felt that Helen Burns considered things by a light invisible to my eyes. I suspected she might be right and I wrong; but I would not ponder the matter deeply; like Felix,[12 - Felix – из Библии; Феликс был римским губернатором, внявшим учению св.

Павла.] I put it off to a more convenient season.

�You say you have faults, Helen, what are they? To me you seem very good.’

�Then learn from me, not to judge by appearances. I am, as Miss Scatcherd said, slatternly; I seldom put, and never keep, things, in order; I am careless; I forget rules; I read when I should learn my lessons; I have no method; and sometimes I say, like you, I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements.

This is all very provoking to Miss Scatcherd, who is naturally neat, punctual, and particular.’

�And cross and cruel,’ I added; but Helen Burns would not admit my addition; she kept silence.

�Is Miss Temple as severe to you as Miss Scatcherd?’

At the utterance of Miss Temple’s name, a soft smile flitted over her grave face.

�Miss Temple is full of goodness; it pains her to be severe to anyone, even the worst in the school; she sees my errors, and tells me of them gently; and, if I do anything worthy of praise, she gives me my meed liberally.

One strong proof of my wretchedly defective nature is, that even her expostulations, so mild, so rational, have not influence to cure me of my faults; and even her praise, though I value it most highly, cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight.’

�That is curious,’ said I, �it is so easy to be careful.

’

�For you I have no doubt it is. I observed you in your class this morning, and saw you were closely attentive; your thoughts never seemed to wander while Miss Miller explained the lesson and questioned you. Now, mine continually rove away; when I should be listening to Miss Scatcherd, and collecting all she says with assiduity, often I lose the very sound of her voice; I fall into a sort of dream.