I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

During afternoon tea time the next day, Pei Xiang finally met all the guests.

Besides the Grant and Braymans, she was acquainted with Lord Ingram's family, Sir George Lynn's family, Mr. Eshton's family, magistrate, and Major and Mrs. Dent.

"Come here, Adele, and sit with me."

Mrs. Grant beckoned to Pei Xiang, and signaled the servant to add a baby chair beside Theodore:

"I like your cute little paintings so much. When I woke up this morning, I saw the sun shining on the window sill, and I immediately thought of the golden wings of the flower elf in the album. It's so beautiful."

Pei Xiang walked over with a smile, sat between Mrs. Grant and Theodore, and talked to her about his dreams and imagination of certain legends.

Sitting nearby, Amy Eshton and Louisa Eshton were both young and lively girls, and they were quickly attracted by the interesting topic between Pei Xiang and Mrs. Grant.After a while, the two also joined the discussion, happily describing what the mythical world in their fantasy would look like.

With the addition of unmarried girls, it will naturally attract suave and handsome gentlemen.Soon, two brothers, Henry Lean and Frederick Lean, came over and listened to the witty remarks of the ladies with a smile on their faces.

Blanche Ingram also noticed the excitement of this group of people. She glanced at Pei Xiang who was surrounded by the crowd, and curled her lips in disdain.

Mary Ingram, Miss Ingram's sister, noticed this detail, and murmured as she ate her pastry:

"Blanche, that little girl is Mr. Rochester's protege. There were rumors that she was the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Rochester and a French dancer, but Mr. Rochester has officially clarified the rumors and notarized her identity. She is only the orphan of Mr. Rochester's friend, a dependent child."

"Of course I know this." Miss Ingram glanced at Rochester who was not far away, a certain certainty flashed between her brows, "But whether it's an illegitimate daughter or a friend's orphan, it's quite an eyesore to me. .”

"It's just an adopted child, so it can't be called an eyesore, right?"

"Mary, you have to know that it takes a lot of money to raise a child, and men have always been soft-hearted in certain aspects. Look at that little monkey... Tsk, maybe I will prepare a copy for her in the future." To get the dowry from the past, that would be a bit too generous."

Mary bowed her head and took a sip of her tea, but didn't answer.She knew that her elder sister Blanche was a shrewd and domineering woman. If she could really become the mistress of Thornfield, she would definitely not be able to tolerate that little girl with a sweet smile.

Miss Ingram didn't care if her sister responded, she continued to complain:

"I heard from my mother that this little girl even has a tutor, which costs a lot more than sending her to a boarding school. Look at the clothes on her body, they are all made of high-quality silk and satin, and she also wears matching clothes." Pearl jewelry, huh, a poor girl whose parents have both died, why should she be treated the same as a child from a noble family?"

"It's really a bit too indulgent." Mary sighed approvingly, "but so what? Blanche, although everyone is rumoring that our two marriages are imminent, you and I know very well that Mr. Rochester has never Nothing has been clearly stated, so you can't interfere with any of his decisions."

Blanche Ingram showed an unconvinced expression. She put down her teacup and said firmly in a low voice:

"This time, Mary, this time as a guest, I will definitely seize the opportunity. I will make Edward Rochester fall in love with me. You know, Mary, I always get what I want."

Mary smiled slightly: "Indeed, my sister, you are always very active. But, are you sure you want to choose Mr. Rochester? Although...he is very rich, but his appearance...is definitely not the one you admire Handsome and elegant, he is a bit...too rough and stern."

Miss Ingram tossed her hair indifferently, and did not answer the stupid question.

——When choosing a man, wealth or appearance, of course I know which is more important.

After a while, after talking with Mr. Eshton, Rochester got up and walked towards the tea table terrace.

Miss Ingram's eyes lit up, and she immediately adjusted her sitting posture without any trace, making her tall chest and curvaceous shoulders and neck more conspicuous, making sure that Rochester noticed her at the first sight.

However, to Miss Ingram's disappointment and anger, Rochester did not approach her to court her as she had imagined, but went straight to Mrs. Grant's group.

"Ms. Grant has the highest status, and Mr. Rochester should have spoken in the past." Mary Ingram persuaded.

"I don't need your comfort, Mary." Miss Ingram frowned impatiently, her eyes following Rochester's every move.

In Miss Ingram's sight, Rochester chatted with Mrs. Grant first, and then patted the little girl's head lightly.The little girl said something to him, and his whole body softened. Although he was still serious, the corners of his lips were raised.

"Isn't that really his illegitimate daughter?" Miss Ingram muttered to herself.

Afterwards, Rochester sat down beside Miss Amy Eshton, and listened intently to the jokes and discussions of several people. It seemed that he had the tendency to stay forever.

Seeing this, Blanche Ingram couldn't sit still.

"Mary, let's go and listen to what they are talking about. If the topic is boring and vulgar, I have the responsibility to interrupt them and bring them back to the kingdom of elegance and taste."

Mary declined: "Blanche, I like to sit here and enjoy the view on the terrace, and I don't want to leave. If you are curious about their conversation, you can go there by yourself. You don't need to give up the fun of getting along with friends in order to accompany me .”

"Why, Mary, you're always so boring."

After saying this, Miss Ingram hurriedly got up and walked towards Rochester.

Louisa Eshton noticed Miss Ingram approaching, and asked politely:

"Miss Ingram, are you also interested in our topic?"

"I'm a little bored, I just want to walk back and forth in this room, what are you talking about, can I listen?"

"Oh, of course, who would refuse the beautiful and intelligent Miss Ingram?"

Standing behind the sofa, George Lean raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly, his deep blue eyes were tender and affectionate.

This man is an out-and-out handsome man. His smile made the Eshton sisters blush, and even Mrs. Grant showed admiring eyes.

But Miss Ingram didn't seem to notice the suave demeanor of this young gentleman. She first glanced at Rochester intently and eagerly, and then she chose a seat not too far away and sat down.

Rochester was talking to Amy Eshton, and they both got to something funny and laughed at the same time.

Miss Ingram waited for a while, and found that Rochester's attention had not been diverted to her, she was immediately displeased.She turned her gaze slightly, and immediately landed on Pei Xiang.

Pei Xiang was sharing a small cake with Theodore at this time.

Theodore gave her the pineapple pieces on the cake, which made Pei Xiang smile contentedly, but he didn't know that this expression stimulated a certain "frustrated person" again.

"Look, where did this exquisite doll come from? It's really interesting. Who of you picked it up?"

This surprised question made Miss Ingram get her wish, and she finally managed to attract Rochester's attention.

Following Ingram's gaze, Rochester couldn't help frowning after realizing that the "delicate little doll" referred to Pei Xiang.

Dissatisfied with the casualness and contempt in Blanche Ingram's tone, he replied lightly:

"There are no dolls here, only a child under my guardianship, her name is Adele Duran, and she is from France. Adele, send my regards to Miss Ingram, you are dressed so exquisitely today that it makes you She has misunderstood. Come on, good boy, talk, move your arms and legs, and don't let the guests have inexplicable thoughts."

Pei Xiang got up, greeted Miss Ingram according to Rochester's instructions, then touched the rosebuds and daisies on her skirt, and said with curved eyes:

"Mr. Rochester, I have grown up well since I was a child. Miss Ingram may have never seen a girl as delicate and beautiful as me, so it is a bit unusual. Don't be angry. I have already forgiven her rudeness."

"Disrespectful?" Miss Ingram's face turned cold all of a sudden.

Pei Xiang nodded, with an innocent tone:

"Is that an inappropriate word? Disrespect means disrespect, doesn't it? My English is not very good, Miss Ingram, are you offended by that word?"

Theodore interrupted: "Sister Adele, your English is excellent, you are not wrong, 'rude' means impolite, I have also learned this word."

Of course, Miss Ingram would not blame the Viscount Rio's children, so she gave Pei Xiang a cold look and said angrily:

"It's not rude to say that you are a little puppet. Little girl, you should recognize your identity. You can't think that you are a superior person just because you accept the charity and mercy of a superior person, or even take it for granted that you deserves the respect of superiors."

Rochester immediately retorted sternly:

"Adele's birth is beyond reproach, she will receive a good lady's education under my tutelage, and she will have a proper dowry. She deserves the respect of any of God's people. Are you, Miss Ingram? Misunderstanding of Adele's identity?"

Miss Ingram heard Rochester's explanation and learned that he would prepare a dowry for Pei Xiang in the future, a gloomy look flashed across her pretty face.

She already regarded herself as the mistress of the Rochester family in her heart, and at the same time, she also regarded Rochester's property as her own, so she very much rejected Pei Xiang, a superfluous child who would encroach on her future interests.

However, reason is also reminding Miss Ingram that although there is a sign of getting married, as long as Rochester does not propose marriage or express her intention for a day, she is just Thornfield's guest and has no right to speak about the private affairs of the master's family.

After testing out how much Rochester attaches importance to Pei Xiang, Miss Ingram immediately restrained her temper and found a way out for herself.

"I did hear some gossip."

Miss Ingram gave a forced smile, as if ashamed of her gullibility and assertiveness.

She paused, and while carefully observing Rochester's expression, she argued:

"So, I thought... huh, my friends know that I've always hated all that nonsense, that I despise anyone born without God's blessing, rich or poor. I never hide that , because I am straightforward and jealous, and I can’t learn to be hypocritical. However, I now know that I misunderstood Miss Duran’s background, Mr. Rochester, I’m sorry.”

Since the young lady bowed her head first, Rochester couldn't care less.He nodded slightly, expressing his acceptance of Miss Ingram's explanation.

Miss Ingram saw the atmosphere calm down, and immediately regained her arrogance and reserve. She said half complaining and half coquettishly:

"Mr. Rochester, I still want to condemn you. Now that you have such a lovely adopted daughter, why didn't you introduce her to us earlier? If that's the case, I will definitely love her even more than now, and I won't listen to those nonsense Word."

"I have always believed in Miss Ingram's ingenuity. I didn't expect you to believe in rumors at times."

"It's probably a matter of concern." Miss Ingram gave Thornfield's host a meaningful look. "I'm also very surprised. Why do you get angry so easily? It's not like me anymore. I didn't care about it before." Those silly gossips. Don't you, Mr. Rochester?"

Miss Ingram waited for Rochester's answer with a smile on her face, but Pei Xiang blankly interrupted the ambiguous atmosphere she created:

"Miss Ingram, I want to ask, who did you hear speak ill of me? Also, why did someone speak ill of me? Did I do something wrong? You just apologized to Mr. Rochester because you Is something wrong?"

Theodore cried: "Sister Adele can do no wrong."

Pei Xiang nodded affirmatively: "I think so too, forget it, I won't ask. Adults are always very strange, thinking that they don't need to apologize for bullying children. After doing something wrong, there are always many excuses .Hey, didn’t anyone teach them the principles of life when they were young? I was only seven years old, and I knew I had to be a well-educated and kind girl.”

Theodore thought carefully for a few seconds and came to a conclusion:

"Mother said that an uneducated person is the rudest guy in good clothes. Don't bother with rude people, sister Adele."

"Like This."

"Yes, that's it." Theodore nodded affirmatively, and added: "My dad said that it's not worth wasting time, time is precious."

"What is what?"

"I can't remember. Anyway, maybe I can't stay in bed, and I can't lose my temper."

After the two finished talking, they didn't pay attention to the reactions of the people around them, and continued to eat the small cakes. You took a bite, and it was easy to find the pure happiness of a child.

——The real child feels that he has helped and is very happy.

—The fake kid is happy because he got all the fruit on the cake.

——Norton not far away asked William in a low voice, do you think they did it on purpose or not?After asking, he also snickered several times.

As for the faces and moods of certain adults...that's not something children should worry about.

This day's afternoon tea ended in a hurry. It is said that during the dinner, Miss Ingram kept her face cold.It wasn't until the next day before the ball that her mood turned from cloudy to sunny, and she began to strive to be the first in everything again, and tried to show off her talent and beauty.

In the next few days, she didn't feel sorry for Pei Xiang anymore. Although she showed a bad expression several times, she quickly covered it up, which seemed to be "wait and see".

Pei Xiang had no time to pay attention to Miss Ingram, because she recently added two temporary courses.One is singing and playing taught by Mrs. Grant herself, and the other is an introductory course in German with William and Norton's German teacher.

Knowing that the guests were not staying for a long time, Jane Eyre suspended Pei Xiang's daily homework and asked her to learn from Mrs. Grant and the German teacher as soon as possible.

As the time spent together increased, Mrs. Grant gradually learned about Pei Xiang's learning speed, and also had a more objective understanding of the knowledge and teaching ability of the tutor Jane Eyre.

One evening while walking, she chatted with Pei Xiang about it.

"Adele, Miss Eyre is a very responsible governess. She is well educated, and compared with girls of her age who have just graduated from charity boarding schools, she is already very good. But I have to regret to say that she It is not suitable to continue to be your teacher anymore, you need more professional guidance, and she should also teach some ordinary children under the age of ten."

While weaving a wreath with wild flowers, Pei Xiang told Mrs. Grant about Jane Eyre's previous resignation.After Mrs. Grant finished listening, there was a look of sincere appreciation in her eyes.

"This girl has an honest and humble character, with self-esteem and self-love. To some extent, this is more important than ability."

Thinking of Jane Eyre's recent mood changes and occasional desire, Pei Xiang quickly asked:

"Mrs. Grant, can you help Jane find a suitable employer? She is really nice, and her French is very good. No matter how fast Sophie and I speak, she can understand."

Mrs. Grant has already recognized Jane Eyre's ability and character, so she is very willing to be a recommender. She thought about it carefully, and said uncertainly:

"I do have a distant relative. He was looking for a tutor for his two daughters. He wrote to me before, hoping that I could help to pay attention."

"How old are their children? Where do they live?"

"They live in Hartfield House in Highbury. Their surname is Woodhouse. The youngest daughter, Emma, ​​is only five years old this year. Well, although the eldest daughter is a bit older, as far as I know, Miss Jane Eyre should be qualified for the position of governess to the Woodhouse family."

"Emma Woodhouse, lives in Hartfield House in Highbury?" Pei Xiang repeated with a little surprise in his heart.

—Is it Jane Austen's "Emma"?

Mrs. Grant smiled and said: "I am very willing to be Miss Jane Eyre's introducer, and I am also willing to see that the two children of my distant relatives have a responsible tutor. Adele, you can tell Miss Jane the news , if she intends to accept the position, I will write to Highbury."