《简爱》英文版 16

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CHAPTER FOUR    My New Friend

The next morning we got up in the dark. In all the rooms it was as cold as ice. This time the porridge was not burned, but I still felt hungry because there was not enough.
The girl I had spoken with yesterday was older than me, so she was in a higher class. Her name was Helen Burns. Her history teacher, Miss Scatcherd, seemed to think Helen did everything wrong. She always spoke to Helen in this way:
"Burns, hold your head up, can't you!"
"Burns, don't stand like that!"
I thought that Miss Scatcherd's history questions seemed very hard. However, Helen always knew all the answers. She was so smart that I did not understand why the teacher did not like her. That day, she looked at Helen and suddenly said,
"You dirty girl! You didn't wash your hands this morning!"
I was surprised that Helen did not tell her that we could not wash ourselves, because the water had been frozen! Miss Scatcberd said something to Helen that I could not hear. Then Helen left the room and returned, carrying a stick. The teacher took it and hit Helen several times with it. I was horrified, but the girl did not cry or change her expression.
"Wicked girl!" said Miss Scatcherd. "Nothing will change your dirty habits!"
During the play hour, I found Helen alone, reading the same book as before, and I started talking to her.
"Do you want to leave Lowood?" I asked her.
"No, I don't. I was sent to school here, so I must learn as much as I can."
I was very surprised. "But Miss Scatcherd is so cruel to you!" I cried.
"She's not cruel. She is strict, and she knows my faults."Helen said.
I said angrily, "Why, if she hit me with a stick, I'd grab it and break it under her nose!"
"I don't think you would," answered Helen quietly. "And if you did, Mr. Brocklehurst would send you away, and your relations would be angry. Anyway, the Bible tells us to do good things, even when others hurt us. Life can be hard, but we must try."