第25部分(第2/8 頁)

；　sir；　I　have　little　experience　of　them：　they　are　generally　thought　pleasant　things。”

“Generally　thought？　But　what　do　you　think？”

“I　should　be　obliged　to　take　time；　sir；　before　I　could　give　you　an　answer　worthy　of　your　acceptance：　a　present　has　many　faces　to　it；　has　it　not？　and　one　should　consider　all；　before　pronouncing　an　opinion　as　to　its　nature。”

“Miss　Eyre；　you　are　not　so　unsophisticated　as　Adèle：　she　demands　a　‘cadeau；’　clamorously；　the　moment　she　sees　me：　you　beat　about　the　bush。”

“Because　I　have　less　confidence　in　my　deserts　than　Adèle　has：　she　can　prefer　the　claim　of　old　acquaintance；　and　the　right　too　of　custom；　for　she　says　you　have　always　been　in　the　habit　of　giving　her　playthings；　but　if　I　had　to　make　out　a　case　I　should　be　puzzled；　since　I　am　a　stranger；　and　have　done　nothing　to　entitle　me　to　an　acknowledgment。”

“Oh；　don’t　fall　back　on　over…modesty！　I　have　examined　Adèle；　and　find　you　have　taken　great　pains　with　her：　she　is　not　bright；　she　has　no　talents；　yet　in　a　short　time　she　has　made　much　improvement。”

“Sir；　you　have　now　given　me　my　‘cadeau；’　I　am　obliged　to　you：　it　is　the　meed　teachers　most　covet—praise　of　their　pupils’　progress。”

“Humph！”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　and　he　took　his　tea　in　silence。

“e　to　the　fire；”　said　the　master；　when　the　tray　was　taken　away；　and　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　settled　into　a　corner　with　her　knitting；　while　Adèle　was　leading　me　by　the　hand　round　the　room；　showing　me　the　beautiful　books　and