英语听力：勃朗特一家的故事 05 Looking for work

　　5 Looking for work

　　I do not remember everything they did¹．

　　Charlotte and Anne worked as² governesses for some months，teaching rich children in big houses， and Branwell got³ a job like that too，for a while⁴．But they didn't like their work．At home my children were full of talk and laughter，but away from home they were shy，quiet，unhappy．

　　They wrote⁵ a lot of letters in their search⁶ for work—some－times to famous⁷ people．Branwell wanted to be a writer，so he wrote to writers；but not many of them wrote back．He began to look pale⁸ and sad in those days，and he was⁹ often in the vil－lage pub，drinking and talking to the people there．Then he got a job selling tickets on the railways，and left home．

　　The girls had¹⁰ an idea．I remember the day when they told me about it．Charlotte and Anne were at home on holiday，and we were all in the sitting-room¹¹ after dinner one evening． Anne was playing the piano，and singing quietly¹² to herself¹³．She was the prettiest of the three girls，I suppose¹⁴．She had long wavy¹⁵ brown hair，and a gentle¹⁶，kind face Emily sat¹⁷ on the floor be-side her，stroking the ears of her dog，Keeper．Charlotte sat op- posite me on the sofa，like a little child with a serious，thought¹⁸- ful face．She was the smallest；her feet were no bigger than my hands．

　　She looked at me carefully²⁰．'Papa，'she said²¹．'We want to start a school．'

　　'Really，my dear？ Where？'

　　'Here．'

　　'But Charlotte，my dear，we have no room．This house is full already²²．'

　　'Oh，but we could²³ change the house，papa．We could build a schoolroom．'

　　'Well，yes，I suppose so，'I said．'But—why do you want to do this？Isn't it better to work as governesses，in some big fine house？'

　　'Oh no，papa！'All three girls spoke²⁴ at once．Anne had stopped playing，and Emily looked very angry and frightening²⁵．I could see they had thought hard about this．

　　Charlotte said：'The life²⁶ of a governess is terrible，papa！A governess has no time of her own，no friends，no one to talk to，and if she gets angry with the children，they just run to their mother．I couldn't possibly be a governess all my life！'

　　'It's true，papa，'Anne said．'It's an awful²⁷ life．We're so lonely²⁸ away from each other．Why can't we have a school，and all live here？Then we can take care¹⁹ of you and Aunt Branwell when you get old．'

　　I looked at Emily．Her eyes were shining；I could see that the idea was important²⁹ to her too．

　　'But why will people send their children here？' I asked．'Haworth is not a big town，or a beautiful place．How will you find children to teach？'

　　'We have thought of that too，papa，'Charlotte said．'We must learn more，and become better teachers．I have spoken³⁰ to Aunt Branwell，and she will give us the money，if you agree³¹．Emily and I want to go to Belgium，to learn French³²．If we can speak French well，then parents will send their children to us to learn that．'

　　'Emily will go？'I said．I looked at her．Emily had only been away from home twice，and each time she had been very un-happy．But now she looked excited³³．

　　'Yes，papa，'she said．'I will go．Charlotte is right— we must do something．And this will help us to stay together．'

　　'And Anne？'

　　'I will stay as a governess with the Robinson family，'Anne said sadly³⁴．'There's not enough money for us all to go，and ...the Robinsons are not so very bad．'

　　It was always like that．Anne was a gentle girl；she did not fight³⁵ as hard as the others³⁶．Perhaps³⁷ her life was easier because of that．I don't know．

　　But I thought it was a wonderful idea．I wrote to Belgium，and found³⁸ them places in a school in Brussels，which was owned³⁹ by a Monsieur Héger．I agreed⁴⁰ to take the girls there，and for a month I wrote down French words in a little pocket⁴¹ book，to help me on the journey⁴²．Then，one afternoon in 1824，we caught the train to London．

　　I had not been to London for over twenty years，and my daughters had never been there．We stayed for three days，and then we took⁴³ the night boat to Belgium，and arrived at a tall，fine school building in the centre⁴⁴ of Brussels．

　　Héger himself⁴⁵ was a very polite，friendly man—very kind．He did not always understand my French，but he showed me round the school，and talked a lot，very fast．I smiled， and tried to answer．

　　The two girls were very excited when I left them．As I came⁴⁶ home on the boat，I thought：'This is a good thing，a fine thing，perhaps．My daughters will start a good school， and Ha－worth will become famous．I hope⁴⁷ Branwell can make a success⁴⁸ of his life，too．Then my wife⁴⁹ Maria will be pleased⁵⁰ with us all．'

　　5 找工作

　　我已记不清他们做过的每一件事情了。

　　夏洛蒂和安妮做过几个月的家庭教师，在高大的房子里教有钱人家的孩子们。布兰韦尔也暂时找了个类似的工作，但他们都不喜欢这种工作。在家里我的孩子们谈笑风生，可离开家后他们就变得害羞、沉默、很不开心。

　　他们为找工作写了许多信，有时是写给大人物的。布兰韦尔想当作家，他就给作家写信，却很少有人回信。那些日子他变得伤心疲倦，经常在乡村酒吧和人喝酒、闲聊。后来他找到一份在火车站卖票的工作，就离开了家。

　　女儿们另有想法。我还记得她们跟我谈话的那天。夏洛蒂和安妮回家休假，晚饭后我们都坐在客厅里，安妮弹着钢琴，一边弹一边还轻轻地唱着歌。我觉得她是3个女儿中最美的，有一头鬈曲的褐色长发，还有着一张温柔善良的脸。爱米丽坐在她旁边的地板上，抚摸着她那只叫“管家”的狗的耳朵。夏洛蒂坐在我对面的沙发上，看上去像个孩子，却又带着深思熟虑的表情。她个子最小，脚还没有我的手大。

　　她端详着我，说：“爸爸，我们想开办一所学校。”

　　“真的，亲爱的？在哪儿？”

　　“就在这儿。”

　　“可是夏洛蒂，亲爱的，我们没有地方啊！这栋房子已经很满了呀！”

　　“哦，但我们可以，爸爸。我们可以盖一间大教室。”

　　“嗯，是啊，我觉得行。”我说，“不过为什么你想干这个呢？在别人家的大房子里做家庭教师不是更好吗？”

　　“噢，不，爸爸！”3个女儿一起对我说。安妮停下来，不弹琴了，爱米丽看上去很生气，样子非常吓人。我看得出她们已经好好想过了。

　　夏洛蒂说：“当女家庭教师的生活太可怕了，爸爸！一个家庭教师没有属于自己的时间，没有朋友，没有说话的人。如果对孩子发脾气，他们就会立刻跑到自己母亲那里去。我不可能一辈子都干这个！”

　　“真的，爸爸。”安妮说，“那种生活很可怕。我们不得不分开，都那么孤单。为什么我们不能有所自己的学校，就住在这儿呢？这样等您和布兰韦尔姨妈老了我们就可以照顾你们了。”

　　我看着爱米丽，她的眼睛熠熠发光，看得出这主意对她也很重要。

　　“但是人们为什么要把孩子送到这儿来呢？”我问，“霍沃斯既非大城市，又不是风景区。你们怎么找到孩子来教呢？”

　　“我们也已经想到这一点了，爸爸。”夏洛蒂说，“我们必须多学一些，成为更好的教师。我和布兰韦尔姨妈谈过了，如果您同意，她会给我们钱的。爱米丽和我想去比利时学法语。如果我们能讲流利的法语，那些父母就会把孩子送来学法语。”

　　“爱米丽会去吗？”我说。一边看着她。爱米丽只离开过家两次，每次她都很不开心。但这回她看上去却相当兴奋。

　　“是的，爸爸。”她说，“我要去。夏洛蒂是对的，我们必须做些事情，这还能使我们待在一起。”

　　“那安妮呢？”

　　“我还在罗宾逊家里当家庭教师，”安妮难过地说，“我们的钱不够大家都去的，况且罗宾逊家的人也没那么坏。”

　　事情总是那样。安妮是个温柔的孩子，她不像别人那样努力地去争取。或许正是如此，她的生活倒更轻松些。我不知是否如此。

　　不过我还是认为这是个好主意。我写信去比利时，在布鲁塞尔的一所学校为他们找到了去的地方。那所学校是埃热先生的。我同意送她们去那儿，在一个月内我在小笔记本上记下了许多法语单词，以备旅途之需。然后，1842年的一个下午，我们坐上了开往伦敦的火车。

　　我已有二十多年没去伦敦了，女儿们还从来没去过。我们在伦敦住了三天，然后搭夜班船去比利时，最后到达布鲁塞尔市中心的一座高大美观的学校楼前。

　　埃热本人是一个很有礼貌、很友好的人——非常和气。他并不总能听懂我的法语，但还是带着我在学校转了一圈，他讲了许多话，速度快极了。我微笑着，努力有所应答。

　　当我离开时两个孩子非常兴奋。坐在船上我心想：“这也许是件好事，一件妙事。我的女儿们将开办一所好学校，霍沃斯也将因此而出名。我希望布兰韦尔的生活成功，那样我妻子玛丽亚会为我们都感到高兴的。”

1 did   

v.动词do的过去式

参考例句：

• How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球？
• Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢？

2 as   

conj.按照；如同

参考例句：

• He got work in a hotel as a waiter.他在一家旅馆找到了当服务生的工作。
• In the hotel,the old men were drinking away as usual.在旅馆里，这些老人和往常一样喝个不停。

3 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

4 while   

conj.当…的时候；而；虽然；尽管 n.一会儿

参考例句：

• In a short while,the cat ate up the fish.不久，那只猫便将鱼吃个精光。
• He teaches English in the school all the while.他一直在这所学校里教英语。

5 wrote   

v.（write的过去式）写

参考例句：

• She wrote the music and he wrote the book.她作曲子，他写歌词。
• He wrote back that he was too busy to join us.他回信说他太忙不能参加我们的活动。

6 search   

n.搜寻，探究；v.搜寻，探求，调查

参考例句：

• Did you search all over?你整个都搜查过了吗？
• After a long search,they found the lost child.经过很长时间的寻找，他们发现了这个走失的小孩。

7 famous   

adj.著名的，驰名的，闻名遐迩的；极好的；擅长的

参考例句：

• The hotel is famous for its suppers.那个酒店以晚餐而著称。
• He is famous for his learning.他以有学问而出名。

8 pale   

adj.苍白的，无力的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• You look a bit pale.你脸色有点苍白。
• He seems to be sick,for he appears pale.看样子他病了，因为他面色看起来很苍白。

9 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

10 had   

vbl.have的过去式和过去分词；conj.有

参考例句：

• I just had a good idea!我有个好主意！
• The boy had a small branch of a tree in his hand.这个男孩手上拿一条小树枝。

11 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

12 quietly   

adv.安静地，沉着地，稳地

参考例句：

• Winter has been come to quietly.冬天悄然地来了。
• You have to play quietly.你要安安静静地玩。

13 herself   

pron.她自己

参考例句：

• The little girl wrote the letter all by herself. 这小女孩自己写了这封信。
• She should do her homework herself.她应该自己做作业。

14 suppose   

v.料想，猜测；假定，以为；（祈使句）让，设

参考例句：

• I suppose he will be back by eight o'clock.我想他八点钟以前会回来。
• Suppose he can't come,who will do the work?如果他不能前来，谁来做这项工作呢？

15 wavy   

adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• She drew a wavy line under the word.她在这个词的下面画了一条波纹线。
• His wavy hair was too long and flopped just beneath his brow.他的波浪式头发太长了，正好垂在他的眉毛下。

16 gentle   

adj.温和的；温柔的

参考例句：

• You must be gentle when holding a little baby.抱小孩时要轻柔。
• Our new teacher is gentle towards us.我们的新老师对我们很和蔼。

17 sat   

v.（sit的过去式，过去分词）坐

参考例句：

• He sat on a chair.他坐在椅子上。
• The mother sat by the sick child all night long.妈妈整夜守在生病的孩子身旁。

18 thought   

n.想法，思想，思维，思潮，关心，挂念；v.vbl.think的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It was just a thought.这仅仅是一个想法。
• She thought he had a cold.她认为他感冒了。

19 care   

n.小心，照料，忧虑；v.关心，照顾，喜爱，介意

参考例句：

• I really care about the students in my class.我的确喜欢这个班上的学生。
• Her work is to take care of the children.她的工作是照料好孩子。

20 carefully   

adv.仔细地；小心地

参考例句：

• If you watch carefully you will see how to do it. 如果你仔细观察，你就会看出如何做此事了。
• Now listen carefully everybody.请大家仔细地听。

21 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

22 already   

adv.已经

参考例句：

• We have eaten already.我们已经吃过了。
• I've been there already,so I don't want to go again.我早已去过那里了，所以我不想再去了。

23 could   

v.能，可能(can的过去式)；aux.v.(can的过去式)能；可以

参考例句：

• Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
• I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。

24 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

25 frightening   

adj.令人恐惧的

参考例句：

• The task looks frightening.看来这任务很吓人。
• I think it's frightening rather than exciting.刺激什么呀，我觉得太吓人了。

26 life   

n.生活；生命

参考例句：

• The doctor came in time to save his life.医生及时来抢救他的生命。
• At last he knew the meaning of life.终于，他知道了生命的意义。

27 awful   

adj.极坏的；极讨厌的；令人畏惧的，可怕的；威严的，庄重的；极度的，非常的

参考例句：

• The weather is awful today.今天天气坏透了。
• An awful accident has happened.发生了一起可怕的意外事故。

28 lonely   

adj.孤独的，寂寞的，孤零零的，人迹罕至的

参考例句：

• The place is a bit lonely.那个地方有点荒凉。
• I don't feel lonely as I've made new friends here. 我在这里又交了新朋友，一点也不寂寞。

29 important   

adj.重要的；重大的；严重的

参考例句：

• It's important to find out what he is doing.弄清他在干什么是重要的。
• This is a very important problem.这个问题很重要。

30 spoken   

adj.口语的；口说的；口头的

参考例句：

• His spoken English is very good.他的英语口语非常好。
• We'll hold a talk on how to improve our spoken English.我们将要举行一次关于如何提高我们的英语口语的会谈。

31 agree   

vi.同意，赞成，承认，适合；vt.同意

参考例句：

• I totally agree with you.我完全同意你的看法。
• They could not agree about who should do the work.对于谁该做这项工作，他们意见不一致。

32 French   

adj.法国(人)的，法语的；n.法语；vt.剁肉，蔬菜切成长条

参考例句：

• She reads French quite well,but doesn't speak it.她法语的阅读能力相当强，但不会讲。
• The only French city she enjoyed was Paris.巴黎是她惟一喜欢的法国城市。

33 excited   

adj.激动的；兴奋的

参考例句：

• He was so excited that he could not speak.他太兴奋，连话都说不出来了。
• The excited children forgot to take the presents to the party.孩子们兴奋得忘了把礼物带到聚会上了。

34 sadly   

adv.悲痛地，悲惨地，悲伤地

参考例句：

• She looked at him sadly.她难过地看着他。
• Sadly the good times aren't returning any time soon.遗憾的是，好时光不会很快就回来。

35 fight   

n.打架，战斗，斗志；v.对抗，打架

参考例句：

• We are ready to fight again.我们再度准备好战斗。
• I'll fight with you.我会和你并肩作战。

36 others   

prep.(pl.)另外的人

参考例句：

• Learning from others is important.向别人学习很重要。
• She is always ready to help others.她总是乐于助人。

37 perhaps   

adv.也许，可能

参考例句：

• Perhaps it will rain in the afternoon.下午可能有雨。
• Perhaps I can help you.也许我能帮帮你的忙吧。

38 found   

v.建立，创立，创办；vbl.(find的过去分词)找到

参考例句：

• I found him at home.我发现他在家。
• The United Nations was found in 1945.联合国于1945年成立。

39 owned   

adj.自身拥有的v.承认( own的过去式和过去分词 )；拥有；服从于；认领

参考例句：

• land owned by the Crown 王国的土地
• My dad had to buy CDs of all the albums he already owned on vinyl. 我爸爸就是要买他已有的所有黑胶唱片的CD版。

40 agreed   

adj.同意的；接受的；经过协议的；双方共同议定的v.同意，赞同( agree的过去式和过去分词)；[语法学]（在性、数、人称或格方面）一致；相同；和睦相处

参考例句：

• He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us. 尽管勉强，他最后还是同意帮助我们。
• Both sides in the dispute have agreed to go to arbitration . 争执双方已同意提请仲裁。

41 pocket   

n.口袋，钱袋，钱，容器，孤立地区；vt.装…在口袋里，隐藏，抑制，私吞，搁置

参考例句：

• The letter has been in my pocket all the time.这封信一直揣在我口袋里。
• I wish to change some pocket money.我希望换些零钱。

42 journey   

n.旅行，旅程；路程

参考例句：

• She will give up this journey.她将放弃这次旅行。
• The journey home was great fun.回家的旅程非常有趣。

43 took   

vt.带，载(take的过去式)

参考例句：

• I took my dog for a walk along the river.我带着狗沿那条河散步。
• It took me about two hours to cook the meat.我花了大约两个小时来煮这些肉。

44 centre   

n.中心；中央；v.集中

参考例句：

• You should go to the shopping centre.你应该去购物中心。
• Have you got a map of the city centre?你有市中心的地图吗？

45 himself   

pron.他自己

参考例句：

• He is proud of himself.他为自己感到自豪。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

46 came   

v.动词come的过去式

参考例句：

• I was surprised why he came here so early.他为什么那么早到这里，我很惊奇。
• The doctor came in time to save his life.医生及时来抢救他的生命。

47 hope   

vt.希望，期望；vi.希望，期待；n.希望，期望

参考例句：

• We hope you can come.我们希望你能来。
• Hope you'll enjoy yourself there.愿您度过愉快的一天。

48 success   

n.成就，成功

参考例句：

• The party looks like being a success after all.无论怎么说这次聚会看起来是成功的。
• All in all,it has been a great success.总的来说，非常成功。

49 wife   

n.妻子，太太，老婆

参考例句：

• She is my wife.她是我妻子。
• He is a tall man but his wife is a short woman.他是个子很高的男人，但他妻子很矮。

50 pleased   

adj.高兴的，快乐的，喜欢的，满意的

参考例句：

• She was pleased to hear good news about him.听到他的好消息，她很高兴。
• Whichever day you come,we will be pleased to see you.无论你哪一天来，我们都很高兴。