The next visit I paid to Nancy Brown was in the second week in March: for, though I had many spare minutes during the day, I seldom could look upon an hour as entirely my own; since, where everything was left to the caprices of Miss Matilda and her sister, there could be no order or regularity. Whatever occupation I chose, when not actually busied about them or their concerns, I had, as it were, to keep my loins girded, my shoes on my feet, and my staff in my hand; for not to be immediately forthcoming when called for, was regarded as a grave and inexcusable offence: not only by my pupils and their mother, but by the very servant, who came in breathless haste to call me, exclaiming, ‘You’re to go to the schoolroom DIRECTLY, mum, the young ladies is WAITING!!’ Climax of horror! Actually waiting for their governess!!!
But this time I was pretty sure of an hour or two to myself; for Matilda was preparing for a long ride, and Rosalie was dressing for a dinner–party at Lady Ashby’s: so I took the opportunity of repairing to the widow’s cottage, where I found her in some anxiety about her cat, which had been absent all day. I comforted her with as many anecdotes of that animal’s roving propensities as I could recollect. ‘I’m feared o’ th’ gamekeepers,’ said she: ‘that’s all ‘at I think on. If th’ young gentlemen had been at home, I should a’ thought they’d been setting their dogs at her, an’ worried her, poor thing, as they did MANY a poor thing’s cat; but I haven’t that to be feared on now.’ Nancy’s eyes were better, but still far from well: she had been trying to make a Sunday shirt for her son, but told me she could only bear to do a little bit at it now and then, so that it progressed but slowly, though the poor lad wanted it sadly. So I proposed to help her a little, after I had read to her, for I had plenty of time that evening, and need not return till dusk. She thankfully accepted the offer. ‘An’ you’ll be a bit o’ company for me too, Miss,’ said she; ‘I like as I feel lonesome without my cat.’ But when I had finished reading, and done the half of a seam, with Nancy’s capacious brass thimble fitted on to my finger by means of a roll of paper, I was disturbed by the entrance of Mr. Weston, with the identical cat in his arms. I now saw that he could smile, and very pleasantly too.
‘I’ve done you a piece of good service, Nancy,’ he began: then seeing me, he acknowledged my presence by a slight bow. I should have been invisible to Hatfield, or any other gentleman of those parts. ‘I’ve delivered your cat,’ he continued, ‘from the hands, or rather the gun, of Mr. Murray’s gamekeeper.’
‘God bless you, sir!’ cried the grateful old woman, ready to weep for joy as she received her favourite from his arms.
‘Take care of it,’ said he, ‘and don’t let it go near the rabbit–warren, for the gamekeeper swears he’ll shoot it if he sees it there again: he would have done so to–day, if I had not been in time to stop him. I believe it is raining, Miss Grey,’ added he, more quietly, observing that I had put aside my work, and was preparing to depart. ‘Don’t let me disturb you—I shan’t stay two minutes.’
‘You’ll BOTH stay while this shower gets owered,’ said Nancy, as she stirred the fire, and placed another chair beside it; ‘What! There’s room for all.’
‘I can see better here, thank you, Nancy,’ replied I, taking my work to the window, where she had the goodness to suffer me to remain unmolested, while she got a brush to remove the cat’s hairs from Mr. Weston’s coat, carefully wiped the rain from his hat, and gave the cat its supper, busily talking all the time: now thanking her clerical friend for what he had done; now wondering how the cat had found out the warren; and now lamenting the probable consequences of such a discovery. He listened with a quiet, good–natured smile, and at length took a seat in compliance with her pressing invitations, but repeated that he did not mean to stay.
‘I have another place to go to,’ said he, ‘and I see’ (glancing at the book on the table) ‘someone else has been reading to you.’
‘Yes, sir; Miss Grey has been as kind as read me a chapter; an’ now she’s helping me with a shirt for our Bill—but I’m feared she’ll be cold there. Won’t you come to th’ fire, Miss?’
‘No, thank you, Nancy, I’m quite warm. I must go as soon as this shower is over.’
‘Oh, Miss! You said you could stop while dusk!’ cried the provoking old woman, and Mr. Weston seized his hat.
‘Nay, sir,’ exclaimed she, ‘pray don’t go now, while it rains so fast.’
‘But it strikes me I’m keeping your visitor away from the fire.’
‘No, you’re not, Mr. Weston,’ replied I, hoping there was no harm in a falsehood of that description.
‘No, sure!’ cried Nancy. ‘What, there’s lots o’ room!’
‘Miss Grey,’ said he, half–jestingly, as if he felt it necessary to change the present subject, whether he had anything particular to say or not, ‘I wish you would make my peace with the squire, when you see him. He was by when I rescued Nancy’s cat, and did not quite approve of the deed. I told him I thought he might better spare all his rabbits than she her cat, for which audacious assertion he treated me to some rather ungentlemanly language; and I fear I retorted a trifle too warmly.’
‘Oh, lawful sir! I hope you didn’t fall out wi’ th’ maister for sake o’ my cat! he cannot bide answering again—can th’ maister.’
‘Oh! it’s no matter, Nancy: I don’t care about it, really; I said nothing VERY uncivil; and I suppose Mr. Murray is accustomed to use rather strong language when he’s heated.’
‘Ay, sir: it’s a pity.’
‘And now, I really must go. I have to visit a place a mile beyond this; and you would not have me to return in the dark: besides, it has nearly done raining now—so good–evening, Nancy. Good–evening, Miss Grey.’
‘Good–evening, Mr. Weston; but don’t depend upon me for making your peace with Mr. Murray, for I never see him—to speak to.’
‘Don’t you; it can’t be helped then,’ replied he, in dolorous resignation: then, with a peculiar half–smile, he added, ‘But never mind; I imagine the squire has more to apologise for than I;’ and left the cottage.
I went on with my sewing as long as I could see, and then bade Nancy good–evening; checking her too lively gratitude by the undeniable assurance that I had only done for her what she would have done for me, if she had been in my place and I in hers. I hastened back to Horton Lodge, where, having entered the schoolroom, I found the tea–table all in confusion, the tray flooded with slops, and Miss Matilda in a most ferocious humour.
‘Miss Grey, whatever have you been about? I’ve had tea half an hour ago, and had to make it myself, and drink it all alone! I wish you would come in sooner!’
‘I’ve been to see Nancy Brown. I thought you would not be back from your ride.’
‘How could I ride in the rain, I should like to know. That damned pelting shower was vexatious enough—coming on when I was just in full swing: and then to come and find nobody in to tea! and you know I can’t make the tea as I like it.’
‘I didn’t think of the shower,’ replied I (and, indeed, the thought of its driving her home had never entered my head).
‘No, of course; you were under shelter yourself, and you never thought of other people.’
I bore her coarse reproaches with astonishing equanimity, even with cheerfulness; for I was sensible that I had done more good to Nancy Brown than harm to her: and perhaps some other thoughts assisted to keep up my spirits, and impart a relish to the cup of cold, overdrawn tea, and a charm to the otherwise unsightly table; and—I had almost said—to Miss Matilda’s unamiable face. But she soon betook herself to the stables, and left me to the quiet enjoyment of my solitary meal.
背景介紹與作者介紹
這段摘錄出自一部經典的 19 世紀小說，透過一位家庭女教師的視角，探討了責任、善良和社會階級等主題。故事背景設定在英國鄉村，主角在其中應對她的角色所帶來的挑戰，同時與周圍的人建立有意義的聯繫。作者是一位傑出的維多利亞時代作家，以其對社會動態的敏銳觀察以及她富有同情心地描繪女性內心世界的能力而聞名。她的作品經常突顯女性在僵化的社會等級制度中的掙扎和韌性。
詳細解讀與意義
這段文字揭示了家庭女教師的同情心，她拜訪了擔心她失蹤的貓的寡婦南希·布朗。儘管她自己的空閒時間有限，並且受到雇主強加的繁重家務的約束，但她仍然選擇提供安慰和實際幫助。這種善行與瑪蒂爾達小姐表現出的不耐煩和自私形成了鮮明對比，突顯了家庭女教師的道德力量。
這個故事也觸及了社會責任和勇氣的主題。韋斯頓先生干預以拯救貓免受守獵人的槍擊，象徵著為正義挺身而出，即使這會冒著與默里先生等權威人物發生衝突的風險。家庭女教師對瑪蒂爾達小姐的嚴厲言辭的平靜忍耐，進一步強調了她在壓力下的內在韌性和優雅。
給學生的教訓和見解
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同情心和善良： 家庭女教師願意幫助南希·布朗，教導我們關心他人的重要性，尤其是那些脆弱或孤獨的人。學生可以學會關注朋友、家人和社區成員的需求。
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耐心和韌性： 儘管環境混亂且要求嚴格，但家庭女教師仍然保持鎮定和開朗。這鼓勵年輕讀者培養耐心，即使在困難的情況下也能保持積極的態度。
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做正確事的勇氣： 韋斯頓先生的勇敢行為提醒我們，為正義挺身而出並保護那些無法保護自己的人是一種高尚且必要的品質。
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平衡責任： 家庭女教師對她時間的謹慎管理——幫助南希、閱讀、縫紉和履行她的職責——說明了組織和優先排序的價值，這些技能在學校和日常生活中都很有用。
在日常生活中的應用
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在學習中： 學生可以效仿家庭女教師的榜樣，在學習中勤奮自律，同時抽出時間支持可能需要幫助的同學。
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在社交場合中： 像家庭女教師對南希那樣表現出善良和理解，可以建立牢固的友誼並促進支持性的社區。
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在個人成長中： 培養耐心和韌性可以幫助年輕人在學校、體育或家庭生活中從容自信地應對挑戰。
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在道德發展中： 鼓勵勇於為他人挺身而出並公正行事，可以培養學生成為負責任和合乎道德的公民。
從故事中培養積極的品質
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練習同情心： 試著傾聽和理解他人的感受，就像家庭女教師傾聽南希的擔憂一樣。
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保持耐心： 當面臨挫折或不公平時，請記住家庭女教師如何平靜地忍受瑪蒂爾達小姐的苛刻。
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勇敢行動： 尋找幫助或捍衛他人的機會，即使這意味著冒著不被認可的風險。
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明智地管理時間： 平衡你的職責和休閒，確保你可以在不忽視自己責任的情況下幫助他人。
透過反思這個故事，學生可以更深入地欣賞善良、韌性和道德勇氣——這些品質將在他們的一生中為他們提供幫助。
