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学段:大学  学科:文学  发布:2022-05-06  ★★★收藏章节〗〖手机版

Forgive me for my passionate language: I was a child then; eight,nine years have passed since that day."

She heeded nothing of what I said; but when she had tasted the water and drawn breath,she went on thus-

"I tell you I could not forget it; and I took my revenge: for you to be adopted by your uncle,and placed in a state of ease and fort,was what I could not endure. I wrote to him; I said I was sorry for his disappointment,but Jane Eyre was dead: she had died of typhus fever at Lowood. Now act as you please: write and contradict my assertion- expose my falsehood as soon as you like. You were born,I think,to be my torment: my last hour is racked by the recollection of a deed which,but for you,I should never have been tempted to mit."

"If you could but be persuaded to think no more of it,aunt,and to regard me with kindness and forgiveness-"

"You have a very bad disposition," said she,"and one to this day I feel it impossible to understand: how for nine years you could be patient and quiescent under any treatment,and in the tenth break out all fire and violence,I can never prehend."

"My disposition is not so bad as you think: I am passionate,but not vindictive. Many a time,as a little child,I should have been glad to love you if you would have let me; and I long earnestly to be reconciled to you now: kiss me,aunt."

I approached my cheek to her lips: she would not touch it. She said I oppressed her by leaning over the bed,and again demanded water.

As I laid her down- for I raised her and supported her on my arm while she drank- I covered her ice-cold and clammy hand with mine: the feeble fingers shrank from my touch- the glazing eyes shunned my gaze. "Love me,then,or hate me,as you will," I said at last,"you have my full and free forgiveness: ask now for God"s,and be at peace."

poor,suffering woman! it was too late for her to make now the effort to change her habitual frame of mind: living,she had ever hated me- dying,she must hate me still.