Love England

The small clock on the fireplace in the living room struck seven. This living room was large and ornate, even too vulgar ornate, and its decoration fully showed the wealth and status of the mistress. very different.The absolute occupant of this sitting-room was Mrs. Thornton, the mother of Mr. John Thornton.This lady has a majestic face like a Russian tsar, from which one can get a glimpse of where Mr. Thornton's seriousness comes from. Like the tsar, she also wants to control everything and have a bird's-eye view of everything.She often wears this dark dress, as if she is mourning her dead husband forever, and her character is as impressive and majestic as the female czar.She is a very capable woman. After her husband committed suicide with the notoriety of being a debtor and bankrupt, she supported the family with her dignity and tenacity, and raised her son and young daughter alone.But her son lived up to her expectations, saved his father's reputation again, paid off the debts owed by his dead father, became the owner of the textile factory, and was elected as the sheriff respected by everyone in Milton. Proud of her son.

Mrs. Thornton had just finished her dinner and was free, and was skillfully embroidering a white satin handkerchief with her needle and thread.Her daughter, Mr. Thornton's sister, Fanny, was entertaining the evening with a cheerful Scotch dance at the piano on the other side of the drawing-room.

"Fanny, you played really well just now. If you can play a quiet piece, I will be very happy." Although Mrs. Thornton sounded considerate, her tone was so stiff, and she was obviously interested in Fanny. The loud music was a little dissatisfied, disturbing her embroidery.Her daughter heard her mother's meaning, and she simply left the piano and sat opposite her mother, putting on an uncompromising face in protest, but her mother didn't look at her, still doing her own thing with her head down. make a living.At last, Fanny had to admit defeat as usual, and sat down in a chair with boredom, trying not to let herself yawn.

Mr. Thornton came from the study into the living room, and the mother, noticing the entrance of her son, looked up at him at last, but went on with her business.His son approached her and kissed her on the forehead respectfully.Mrs. Thornton found it strange that her son, who had always been stern, showed such tenderness towards her. "John, I think you've been wanting to tell me something. You've been acting like you have something since dinner."

"Yes, Mother, I have something to say. I hope you and Fanny will visit the Hales if you have time these two days!"

"If I'm going to visit your private teacher this time, then next time I'm going to visit Fanny's dance teacher, the Masons, and I'm going to visit every tutor you two meet in the future, Or anyone else? I've always thought it was useless to associate with all the governesses in Milton."

"Mother, if the Masons, Fanny's dancing teachers, were as foreign as the Hales, and had no friends at all, this is how I would visit them!"

"You don't need to make such hasty excuses, my boy. If you insist, I will go tomorrow. I just want to make my point clear to you."

"If you go tomorrow, I will rent the horses."

"Nonsense, John. They'll think you're made of money."

"Not yet. But I've got the horses. Last time you went out in a cab, and you came home sorely jolted."

"I never complained."

"No! My mother didn't like to complain," he said somewhat proudly. "But that is why I am obliged to take care of you all the more. As for Fanny, it would do her good to live a little harder."

"Her character is not like yours, John. She can't bear it." (Note 1)

Mr. Thornton didn't agree with his mother's words. He knew that his mother didn't like people with weak characters, but ironically, her daughter Fanny was such a person, which was the result of Mrs. Thornton's pampering.In fact, he knew that his mother was more inclined to him, but his sister was weak and sick since she was a child, so he and his mother couldn't help but take care of her more. When Fanny grew up, she became a timid, weak, willful and slightly neurotic girl. This is not in line with Mrs. Thornton's expectations, and because Mr. Thornton loves his sister, he tolerates her shortcomings.

"You've been talking about the Hale family lately, John. Although I haven't met them, I don't think they are as good as you say." The younger sister who was sitting on the side interjected, and she disagreed with her brother's evaluation. , she yawned softly—her mother wanted to raise her to be a lady since she was a child, and being a lady can't just yawn casually.She had endured this yawn for a long time, and she released it secretly while her brother was talking to her mother, which made her look very comfortable but also very lazy.

"It seems that Fanny understands what I mean," said Mrs. Thornton, glad that her daughter understood what she meant.

"You'll like the Hale family. It just so happens that there's another lady in his family who is about your age. You can be good friends."

"I know you're talking about Miss Addams, and I hope you won't disappoint me," Fanny replied indifferently.

As soon as she heard about Miss Addams, Mrs. Thornton was finally willing to put down her sewing.Although her son only mentioned this lady three times today when talking about the Hale family, it is rare for her son to mention a lady many times, which aroused the vigilance of the mother. "I really don't understand that Miss Hale is going to London at this time, and her friend is visiting her from America. Although it is a bit out of character, I would like to see this situation. I was a little worried about you. I'm totally reassured to always be in touch with your teachers and family members who will fall in love with their daughters."

"Mother, your worries are completely unnecessary."

"John, believe me, this kind of worry is completely necessary, and it hasn't disappeared yet. Although Miss Hale is not in Milton, I am somewhat interested in this Miss Addams, but you always pass her by."

"Mother, I told you. I just know that she is from the United States and is the daughter of a farmer. I don't know anything else. I can't satisfy your curiosity."

"Her farm grows cotton? I think you mentioned it."

"Yes, she mentioned that."

"Is she pretty? What's her temperament? How's her manners? Of course, I know those Americans don't always behave very elegantly, not as politely as the English."

"Mother, you asked so many questions at once, how can I answer you? I can only say that she is a very educated, assertive, charming, elegant and respectable lady."

"If you have a good relationship with this farmer's daughter, maybe her cotton is good for our factory. You don't know that those cunning British middlemen sell the cotton shipped from the South of the United States to our factories. , What a huge price difference..." Mr. Thornton laughed before his mother finished speaking, and the shrewd mother stopped when she saw her son's expression.

"You have always been shrewd, my mother! You have always thought of our mills, but I do not think Miss Addams will marry me because our mills are short of cotton. Although I did not mention it before, but now It seems that I have to tell you—in fact, my first meeting with Miss Addams was not pleasant, and even had a very big disagreement, and I'm sure she won't like me."

Upon hearing such an answer, Mrs. Thornton looked at his son with an unbelievable expression. Even Fanny, the younger sister, showed a look of disbelief. Although she knew her brother's sternness, both she and her mother knew it well. : John Thornton, good-looking, reasonable, conscientious and responsible beyond reproach, how can anyone not like him?How could anyone argue with him and have a disagreement?Mrs. Thornton believed that if Miss Addams was really "a well-bred, assertive, charming, elegant and respectable lady" as his son said, then it was impossible for her not to like him son.His son has always been upright, and in her eyes he is even more gentlemanly than his father. He will not say a single harsh word to any lady, but she is not a gentleman. She would like to see what this Calpernia Addams has. How can she look down on her son.Even if she had thought of his son marrying this young lady, she had lost all affection for the daughter of an upstart American farmer.

Mr. Thornton saw what his mother might be thinking, and quickly said: "Mother, the disagreement between me and Miss Addams was also due to a misunderstanding. This misunderstanding has been explained clearly now, so you must be objective and fair. look at certain things."

"John, you know that I have always been objective and fair. As for what kind of person Miss Addams is, I will judge for myself tomorrow!" Mrs. Thornton replied coldly. She decided to meet Addams well tomorrow. Miss.It seemed that Mrs. Thornton had to visit the Hale's for the sake of her son's sake. Now it seemed that she had to go to the Hale's.