听名著练听力之简爱篇 第84期

（单词翻译）

I had twenty village girls to teach. Some of them spoke¹ in such a strong, country speech that I could barely² understand them. Their wods did not seem like the English language. Only three of the girls could read, and none could write. At the end of my first day, I knew there would be much hard work to do. But I told myself that I was lucky to have any kind of work. "Besides, [-----1-----], just like I did when I was their age," I thought.

Ever since I had left Thornfield I had thought of Mr. Rochester every day and night. That evening, i stood at the door of my house, looking at the sunset³ and the quiet fields. I allowed myself to imagine again the life I could have had with Mr. Rochester. He would have loved my very much for a while. "[-----2-----]," I thought, "nobody will ever love me like that again." But I knew that I would only have been his mistress⁴, not his wife. One day, he would have become tired of me. In time, I would be happier here as a schoolteacher. I would be alone, but at least I would be honest.

But when he came to visit me, St. John River found me crying. He asked me.

"[-----3-----]?"

"Oh no," I said,"I know I will enjoy it. And I'm so grateful⁵ to have a home, and work to do. A few weeks ago, I had nothing."