第1章02. The red ro

　'No，I'm sorry，Jane．Until I hear from Bessie，or see for myself，that you arereally trying to behave better，you cannot be treated as a good，happy child，like mychildren．'

　　'What does Bessie say I have done？'I asked．

　　'Jane，it is not polite to question me in that way．If youcannot speak pleasantly，be quiet．'

I crept out ofthe sitting-room and into the small room next door，where Ichose a book full of pictures from the bookcase． I climbed on to thewindow-seat and drew the curtains，so that I was completely hidden．I sat there for awhile．Sometimes I looked out of the window at the grey November afternoon，and saw therain pouring down on the leafless garden．But most of the timeI studied the book and stared，fascinated，at the pictures．Lost in the world of imagination，I forgot my sad，lonely existencefor a while，and was happy，I was only afraid that my secret hiding-place might be discovered．

“对不起，简。如果不听到贝茜说或是由我亲眼看到你的确努力要学好，你就不能像我的孩子那样，被当成是快乐的好孩子。”

　　“贝茜说我干什么了？”我问。

　　“简，这样问我是不礼貌的。如果你不能好好讲话，就闭嘴。”

　　我悄悄退出起居室，走进隔壁的小房间，从书架上选了一本图画书。我爬上窗台，拉好窗帘，把自己整个藏了起来。我坐了一会儿，时而望望窗外。11月的午后天气阴沉，大雨倾泻在秃枝枯叶的花园里。不过大部分时候，我认真读着书，完全被书中的图画吸引住了。我沉浸在想像的世界中，暂时忘掉了伤心和孤单，只感到快活。我唯一担心的就是我的秘密藏身处可能会被发现。