I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

"Hi, Adele, I heard that you are now called Adele Duran. Mr. Rochester has officially become your guardian. You will be educated in England and grow up to be an elegant lady."

Pei Xiang nodded slightly, and showed a small smile to Norton Bleiman:

"Mr. Rochester told me about it, but I thought, well, life hasn't changed much. People still call me Adele or Miss Adele, and I keep forgetting that I've become a 'Duran' .”

"Haha, that's because you are young and have been staying in Thornfield Mansion. When you grow up a bit, you can go to school to receive education or enter the social circle, everyone will call you 'Miss Duran'. Of course , except for our acquaintances, I think we will always call each other's names affectionately."

William stretched his eyebrows, with a smile on his lips, and nodded in agreement.

Theodore on the side asked curiously:

"Sister Adele, do you also need to go to school to study? It's the kind of study that requires you to leave home for a long time."

Pei Xiang thought for a while, and replied uncertainly:

"I don't know exactly what Mr. Rochester's plans are. But I think that in a year or two, um, or after he gets married, I will probably be sent to a boarding school, or sent to a received a more systematic private education at the home of his teacher."

"Why do you have to leave home?" Theodore frowned in distress. "I heard from my father that William and Norton will go to school in a few months."

Pei Xiang looked sideways at the two teenagers: "Are you going to boarding school this year? To London?"

William nodded: "It has been settled, but Theodore has been unhappy. He wants to go to school with us. I think he is probably not used to being the only child left at home."

Norton snorted, he made a face at Theodore behind his back to his tutor, and quickly straightened his expression again.

"The young master is just squeamish, even at this age, he is still a baby who needs company."

William gave his little friend a dissatisfied look, not allowing him to bully the children.

However, just as he turned his head to look at Norton, Theodore also made a face at Norton, and then immediately returned to his cute and cute look.

The blond boy suddenly took a deep breath, his eyes widened, trying to expose the "true face" of a certain brat.

But William stopped talking to Norton, he leaned forward slightly, and said gently to Theodore:

"I will remember to write to you, Theodore, and you can also send me a letter. The time will pass quickly. When the school is over, I will go home to see you."

"Okay," Theodore replied in a low mood, with bright disappointment in his eyes, "William, when you write to me, can you tell me more about the teachers and snacks at the school?"

William agreed to Theodore's request without hesitation.

Pei Xiang looked at the two brothers of the Grant family, and found that the relationship between the two was indeed much closer, at least not as indifferent as it was at the beginning.

Norton seemed to be used to such an atmosphere, he noticed Pei Xiang's curious eyes, leaned over and whispered:

"Since you left Millcote, Theodore has always liked to follow William and me. We read and taught and he read and taught and we went out and he liked to follow. I think he has reached some special It’s the stage where you like to imitate older children, alas, very clingy and cunning. Adele, you just saw that grimace, hmph, William always thinks his brother is innocent and cute.”

Pei Xiang squinted at Norton, pointing out the truth unceremoniously:

"It was you who provoked Theodore first, so I won't 'share the same hatred' with you. On the contrary, I think it is good for Theodore to deal with you like this, which shows that he is not a little milk bag who can be bullied."

Norton touched his chin, raised his eyebrows and said, "Adele, I always have the illusion that you seem to be partial to Theodore."

"Hey, did you just find out?" Pei Xiang made an unbelievable look, "Of course I prefer Theodore, he and I are the same age. Norton, you are five or six years older than me, already too old Now, don't compete with children for favor."

"Too old? Adele, what you said made me sad," Norton exaggeratedly clutched his left chest, "I originally prepared a gift for you. However, since I am so 'old', I The gift you gave must not be in line with your youthful preferences, alas, I decided not to give it."

Pei Xiang blinked, and began to consider whether to temporarily compromise for Norton's gift.

Theodore on the other side interjected: "Sister Adele, Norton is lying to you. Our presents have already been given to Mrs. Fairfax, and she said she would personally deliver them to your room."

"Thank you for telling me the truth, Theodore." Pei Xiang immediately thanked him with a smile, then turned his head and said to the disappointed Norton, "Thank you for the gift, no matter what it is, I promise I won't dislike it."

Hearing this, Norton clutched his chest and leaned back on the sofa:

"Thank you for your 'don't dislike', Adele, I'm really touched and terrified. Also, my good brother William, do you still think Theodore is a simple and lovely little angel? Look at him, always Against me."

William hesitated for a moment, then said matter-of-factly:

"But... Theodore was just telling the truth. Norton, we have indeed given the gift to Thornfield's housekeeper, and it is impossible to ask for it back."

Pei Xiang couldn't help but burst out laughing at these words, and made Norton lean on the back of the sofa not wanting to talk.

When Theodore saw Pei Xiang smile, he also smiled with crooked brows and eyes.He temporarily forgot the disappointment of not being able to go to school with the older children, and told Pei Xiang about the new toys and knowledge he had recently acquired.

Pei Xiang listened carefully. She first discussed with Theodore how to play the new toy for a while, and then praised his progress.

Every word of her praise is from the heart, because Theodore has indeed mastered a lot of new knowledge in the past few months of study.Compared with children of the same age, he is really a good boy who is both smart and hardworking. Even Norton Bleiman has to admit this.

Speaking of homework, she thought of some fantasy-themed works she had drawn recently, which would probably be very popular with children, so she asked Sophie to fetch the album for her.

After that, she talked with William and Norton about language learning.

"My family hired a French teacher and a German teacher for me," the black-haired boy said in a calm tone. "After I go to school, I should also dabble in Greek and Latin."

Norton went on to explain a few sentences: "William is very interested in foreign affairs, and Lord Grant is also very supportive of his ambition. I want to study law and get a position in the circuit court in the future."

Pei Xiang is a little envious, because in this era, the whole society has different training directions for boys and girls.

For girls who have the opportunity to go to school, the ultimate goal of learning all kinds of knowledge is to better serve men and make better contributions to marriage and family.

Therefore, in many boarding schools, certain subjects are not offered to female students.For example, Latin and Greek, such as forensic medicine, such as swimming and diving, such as other strenuous sports, are almost the monopoly of boys.

If it's just that there are few types of courses, Pei Xiang will not be particularly sorry, because she can master every course she comes into contact with, and spend a lot of time and energy on in-depth study, and she will definitely not waste her life.

However, the curriculum in girls' schools is not just a matter of variety, it is also lacking in depth.Girls need to focus most of their energy on learning how to be a good wife and mother, or to improve their attractiveness to the opposite sex.

Naturally, Norton and William didn't know the envy in Pei Xiang's heart, and they were still happily talking about the boarding school. Although they hadn't enrolled yet, they had already heard some real and reliable news from various channels.

At this time, Sophie brought Pei Xiang's picture album.

Pei Xiang gave Theodore the album, hoping that he would like the mysterious and magnificent scenery and the mythical and legendary creatures in the album.

As a result, the content of the conversation naturally transitioned from boarding school to painting.

"Theodore, open it quickly, I am very interested in Adele's works," Norton urged again and again, "Of course, I know, her paintings will definitely not be better than mine, but the three of us Among people, only you got the gift."

William was also more interested. He knew that Adele was good at learning languages, so he was very curious about her artistic talent.

Theodore smiled because of this special care. He put the album on his knees, pinched a corner of the paper with his little hand, and wanted to read it immediately.

However, as soon as he stopped, he looked up at Pei Xiang eagerly:

"Sister Adele, can I show Norton and William?"

Pei Xiang nodded: "I took it out because I was afraid that you would be bored. You can open it and have a look. If you like it, I will teach you how to draw."

Norton laughed: "Ah, the little teacher and the little pupil, it's so interesting."

Theodore's ears automatically blocked Norton's jokes, and happily opened the picture album Pei Xiang gave her.

On the first page, a fat red dragon sleeping soundly on top of gold and silver jewels broke into the sight of several children.

"Wow--"

Theodore's eyes lit up, and he was immediately attracted by the pattern in front of him.In fact, not only Theodore, but even William and Norton watched intently.

If you look closely, you can see that the lines and composition are not difficult. It seems to be a beginner's sketch, but it is unusually vivid and interesting, firmly catching the viewer's attention.

After a while, Theodore turned the page with some reluctance and expectation.

This time it is an elf wandering in the sea of ​​flowers. The wings of the flower elf are painted into a kind of slightly transparent bright gold, as if it is solidified sunlight, or like a moonlight brewed with honey...

After Theodore finished flipping through the entire picture album, the room was silent for a while.

After a long time, Theodore hugged his gift, jumped off the chair and ran to his nanny before Norton and William could react, and hurriedly ordered:

"Hurry up and give this album to my mother, and say it's my treasure, and ask her to keep it for me, and don't show it to anyone else, no one, go quickly."

The nanny took the order, took the album and walked out of the living room.

At this time, Norton also reacted, and he repeatedly said:

"Wait, Theodore, no one will compete with you, put the album here first, let William and I read it again."

Theodore didn't trust Norton, who was always bullying children, and he urged the nanny to leave the room quickly.

Norton stepped forward to intercept, and William also wanted to read the picture book again, so he knelt down to discuss with Theodore, but Theodore shook his head violently...

During the bustle, the door of the living room was suddenly pushed open, and Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Bleiman came in one after the other following the notification of the servant.

"What are you playing? I heard your voices outside the door."

"Mom," Theodore ran up to Mrs. Grant, beckoning the nanny to bring the album, "Sister Adele gave me a gift, Norton and William both liked it."

Taking advantage of his young age, Theodore ran up to act like a spoiled child, but William and Norton were already teenagers, so they couldn't be as childish as him at this moment.Both of them withdrew their relaxed smiles, and greeted Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Bleiman politely.

Pei Xiang also stood up when the male servant was reporting, and after the two ladies came over, he greeted them.

"Miss Duran, nice to meet you, I am Theodore's mother, thank you for helping him."

Mrs. Grant already had a natural liking for Pei Xiang, but now that she is beautiful and cute, she likes her even more.

Mrs. Boleman also heard Norton and William mention Pei Xiang. She knew that she was a very smart little French girl. She also knew that it was because of meeting Pei Xiang in the park that the relationship between the Grant brothers improved further. .Therefore, her feelings towards Pei Xiang are somewhat complicated, but she certainly has no ill feeling.

"Tonight's party and dinner are very formal, and Mrs. Grant and I think you are too young to participate in adult socializing too early."

William immediately nodded and said, "Aunt Charlotte, I will take good care of Norton, Theodore and Adele, please rest assured."

Mrs. Grant gently touched her son's forehead, and said softly:

"My dear Theodore, be a good and well-behaved boy, obey the arrangements of the nanny and governess, eat your dinner well, and go to bed on time, and don't worry your mother, you know?"

Theodore obediently responded, but kept his eyes glued to his album.

Seeing her son's absent-minded appearance, Mrs. Grant also became interested in the picture album Pei Xiang sent. She took the picture album and flipped through it casually.

"Is this drawn by Miss Duran herself?"

Pei Xiang nodded slightly: "Yes, Mrs. Grant."

"Son, how long have you been learning to draw?"

"After I came to the UK, I studied with a tutor for about four months. But when I was in France, I started playing with paints and brushes with an old grandmother when I was about three years old."

"Even if I started to learn painting at the age of three, it is really rare to be able to draw such works," Mrs. Grant sighed very sincerely.

Originally, she only planned to flip through it casually, but now she changed her mind and started to flip through it slowly, page by page.Mrs. Grant's performance caught Mrs. Bleiman's attention, and she couldn't help being curious about the contents of the album.

Although Mrs. Boleman always thought that Mrs. Grant was vain and mean, not a meek and kind woman, but she had to admit that this woman had some artistic talent.Otherwise, she would not be able to marry into the Viscount Rio's mansion smoothly, and she would still be loved and favored by the Viscount all the time.

So, after Mrs. Grant flipped through it, Mrs. Boleman also took the picture album and began to appreciate it.

After a while, Mrs. Boleman raised her head and glanced at Pei Xiang with some distrust.She admitted that these paintings were very good, but at this moment she had some doubts whether these works were painted by Pei Xiang.

"I'm actually interested in Miss Duran's tutor, who can teach such students, um, even though Miss Duran already has some foundation before, but...it's brilliant...the tutor's drawing skills must be very good. Not bad right."

Jane Eyre stood up from the corner, saluted the two ladies, and replied earnestly:

"Miss Adele's painting skills were not taught by me, so I cannot accept this praise."

"Oh? Didn't you teach it?"

Mrs. Boleman raised her eyebrows:

"Miss, I know that some tutors will tell a little bit of white lies in order to make their masters happy. The lies make the adults who love their children lose their usual shrewdness and think that there is a genius in their family, so as to treat The children's tutors are more pleasant. However, I have to say that excessive flattery is not conducive to the growth of children, and will instead destroy their innate aura and innocence."

Jane Eyre pursed her lips, her expression became very serious:

"Mrs. Bleiman, Mr. Rochester is a wise and generous host. He is very responsible for the children under his guardianship and has carefully tested every achievement of the children. Therefore, in Thornfield House, there is no such thing as you said. of falsehoods."

"So, these paintings were really drawn by the seven-year-old Miss Duran? You didn't give her any guidance? In various senses."

"Yes, ma'am, I swear it in the name of God."

Mrs. Grant waved her fan and smiled softly:

"Mrs. Boleman, don't be so serious, look, scare our young girl, by the way, miss, may I have the honor to know your name?"

"Jane Eyre, Mrs. Grant, my name is Jane Eyre."

"Oh, yes, Miss Eyre, please relax. Mrs. Bleiman is a well-bred lady. Although she always likes to point fingers at other people's affairs, I believe she is still very polite to Thornfield The fact that she doubts you and Adele so much is just that she can't understand some phenomena, and she can't empathize with her, so her views are naturally narrower."

Mrs. Boleman raised her face and said displeasedly:

"Mrs. Grant, please learn to respect others, cynicism does not make people more noble."

Mrs. Grant cast a sidelong glance at Charlotte Bleman, her red lips curled up slightly:

"I'm just expressing my feelings about a certain phenomenon, and I'm definitely not mocking those people. For those with artistic talent, they can stand out after a little learning, but for those elm lumps and those whose brains are full of philistine calculations Ordinary people are completely different. Some people, even if they spend all their lives devoting themselves to studying their talents, they probably don’t have any outstanding achievements. Don’t you think, Mrs. Boleman?”

Pei Xiang lowered his eyes and suppressed a smile.

She had heard before that Mrs. Boleman's talent was not outstanding, but she had a very pragmatic and rigorous personality.Mrs. Grant is good at singing and dancing, is proficient in musical instruments, likes to draw and compose music, and has a good appreciation of art.

These two people have completely different personalities, coupled with their respective positions, they often confront each other when they get along with each other in daily life.

Thinking of this, Pei Xiang looked at the expressions of several friends.She found William Grant looking helpless, and Norton Bleiman exuding a "beginning again" boring casualness.

While Theodore took advantage of Mrs. Boleman's busy arguing, he ran over and took his picture album confidently, and then sat down at the seat farthest from the two adults, and flipped through the pages by himself. looked up.

Pei Xiang thought for a while, and felt that at the age of seven, he didn't need to deal with a stranger's doubts, nor should he like to hear two women's tit-for-tat, so he simply followed Theodore's example and found a corner to play with puzzles.

——Oh, I'm still a child, and I'm not in a hurry to grow up.

After a while, she felt that there was a warm and soft little guy beside her. When she looked sideways, she saw Theodore's cute smiling face.

Pei Xiang also smiled at Theodore, and pushed the puzzle in front of him again, and the two started playing together head to head.

On the other side, after several rounds of mutual ridicule between the two ladies, Jane Eyre had to take out her portfolio to prove something.

After reading Jane Eyre's works, Mrs. Boleman snorted in embarrassment and stopped raising questions.

Mrs. Grant, the winner, was very happy. She carefully flipped through Jane Eyre's daily exercises, commented on the two works, and put forward some very pertinent suggestions.

Jane Eyre thought the two ladies were boring and superficial at first.But after listening to Mrs. Grant's comments, she realized that she was a bit extreme. These noble ladies seemed to have nothing to do, but some of them were still very talented.

—Not all ladies are as brutal and cruel as Aunt Reed.

Mrs. Bleman couldn't see Mrs. Grant showing off her feathers like a peacock, so she recruited William and Norton to ask a series of questions in French and German to test the two children's learning.

After that, she called over the two tutors who taught German and French, and revised the daily learning schedule of the two children on the spot based on the questions and answers just now.

Jane Eyre doesn't know German, but her French is good.Therefore, she could tell that Mrs. Boleman spoke a foreign language very fluently and idiomatically, and her diction was even more graceful, elegant, vivid and accurate.At the same time, Mrs. Boleman's teaching revision suggestions are both pertinent and reasonable. It can be seen that she is not the kind of arrogant person who commands indiscriminately.

This unexpected discovery touched Jane Love even more.

A vigorous longing suddenly appeared in her heart. This longing was somewhat inexplicable, but it filled her with energy and made her feel an inexplicable excitement.

She suddenly remembered some of her thoughts when she was at the Lowood boarding school. At that time, she wanted to meet more people and see a wider world, so she resolutely left after staying for eight years. The long-familiar place came to the unfamiliar Thornfield.

—I should have gone further afield.

——I should reach out to more people.

—I shouldn't have trapped myself in a hopeless relationship.

Jane Love felt emotional.

Pei Xiang, who was in the corner, felt that it was a bit too much for parents who went out as guests and inspected their children's studies. Both William and Norton deserved sympathy.

As soon as she had such thoughts in her mind, she saw the blond Norton turning his head secretly, twisting his eyebrows towards her, and blinking his eyes.

William on the other side was a little curious about the puzzle progress of Pei Xiang and Theodore.

He looked sideways for a while, with some intentions to help himself, but when Mrs. Boleman looked over, he immediately restrained his eager expression and turned into a steady young boy again.

While Theodore was helping Pei Xiang with the puzzle (making trouble), he muttered and imitated Mrs. Boleman to speak a foreign language.Then, he sighed like a little adult, struggled to pick up the wrong puzzle piece, and forced it into an empty space.

The two ladies didn't stay in the small living room for too long, and after explaining some things, they left in a hurry.

In the resplendent living room of the front building, there are more and more complex human interactions waiting for them.

That night, the four children had dinner together, and then read books together for a while, played the piano for a while, played crossword puzzles for a while, and finally said good night to each other, and went back to their respective bedrooms to rest.

In the front building, the gathering of adults has just begun.