I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

The girls' school run by Mrs. Colendell has a very good reputation. Its teaching philosophy is relatively enlightened and trendy, and it pays attention to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and striving for excellence.

There are never more than 20 female students in the school, but there are as many as 12 teachers who teach each subject. Coupled with serious and responsible course teaching assistants and careful and gentle administrative support staff, every student can fully grow. s concern.

Of course, the most popular reason for Mrs. Colendell Girls' School is that Mrs. Colendell can rely on her strong social connections to introduce some well-known ladies and ladies to the school's female students, and even invite them Come to the school from time to time to give some guidance to the students.

Students who perform well will of course be expected and valued more, and thus gain recognition from certain celebrity circles.

"Miss Adele, I heard from Mrs. Suvitz that Mrs. Colendell's school is very popular, and many people are fighting for these [-] places," Sophie said briskly while helping Pei Xiang change her clothes. "Mr. Rochester paid a special visit to the Fairfax family, and asked the current Mrs. Fairfax as a recommender, and that's why you were admitted successfully, miss."

Pei Xiang looked around the comfortable and elegant single-person suite, and gave a soft "hmm".

The conditions of this school are indeed good. Correspondingly, the tuition fee, student background and admission difficulty are also above the general standard.She was able to get in, partly because of the Fairfax family's face, partly because of her entrance examination results.

— Mrs. Colendell is very enterprising, and she hopes to cultivate more influential female students.

——Whether it is marrying a prominent celebrity, becoming a model woman praised by everyone, or making achievements in certain fields, it will help the school to accumulate good reputation and reputation.

——So, when she selects students, on the one hand, she values ​​the family background, and on the other hand, she has to examine the potential and qualifications of the students themselves.

"Miss Adele, can you see if it's okay?" Sophie took a step back and asked Pei Xiang to stand in front of the mirror to check her clothes.

Pei Xiang was wearing a school-designated skirt at this time - milky white silk fabric with emerald green embroidery patterns.

She looked left and right in front of the full-length mirror, and motioned for Sophie to take the entrance gift that Rochester gave her.

"Miss, what gift will Mr. Rochester give you?"

"Let me see," Pei Xiang personally untied the ribbon on the jewelry box and opened the round lid, "It's a necklace... so beautiful!"

An exquisite emerald necklace lay quietly on the soft red velvet, complementing the emerald green embroidery on Pei Xiangxin's skirt.

"Miss, let me help you put it on. You must be the most beautiful at the entrance dinner later."

"Sophie, although I'm glad you have such confidence in me, I have to remind you that I'm still a short girl compared to the other fifteen- and six-year-old seniors. You can say that I am Cutest kid."

"Miss Adele, you always insist that you are a child, but you are much smarter than most grown-ups."

"Well, that's the truth." Pei Xiang nodded solemnly.

"Oh, Miss Adele, why do you just admit it like that?" Sophie joked cheerfully, "Mrs. Suvitz said that Miss Adele is very good at everything, but sometimes she is not very modest. She especially hopes , don't expose this trait to new classmates and teachers too early."

While admiring the emerald necklace around his neck, Pei Xiang sighed in pretended annoyance:

"My Sophie, you are becoming more and more difficult to get along with now. I clearly agree with your words, but you don't allow me to admit it."

Sophie grinned, and helped Pei Xiang put on the dark green long coat neatly. After finishing the collar and cuffs, she put a golden feather pomegranate brooch on Pei Xiang.

"Well, my lady is indeed the most beautiful."

"Sweet-mouthed Sophie, I'll bring you the candy at the dinner party. You don't need to praise me so enthusiastically, otherwise, I should be as proud as the green peacock."

"Miss Adele, I am no longer a child clamoring for candy."

"Oh, are you sure? You really don't want candy? I heard that the orange candy at the school opening dinner is very good. It's yellow, sweet and sour, and has a clear and sweet taste. If you don't like it, I will give the candy to the school for distribution." the little maid."

"Oh, Miss Adele, I miss orange candy a little bit."

Pei Xiang bent his lips and took Sophie out of the dormitory room.

At the dinner party, Pei Xiang carefully observed the dozen or so girls in this school, ranging from ten to sixteen years old, all of whom were smart and beautiful ladies from wealthy families.

The oldest girl is graceful and beautiful, her every move is a painting, and she is three points more agile and seven points more gentle than the still exquisite oil painting. She is a slim beauty who feels beautiful in her heart at a glance.

"That's Elizabeth Greenton. Her uncle is Baron Greenton, and her father is a major. It is said that she is expected to be further promoted this year."

The little girl sitting next to Pei Xiang is 12 years old this year and entered school last year. According to the tradition of the opening dinner, she was arranged beside Pei Xiang to help freshmen overcome the strangeness.

"I'm Adele Duran, nice to meet you."

"I'm Alice Van Lair." The blond girl with a round face smiled brightly and her eyes were clear. "Can I call you Adele? Our room is on the same floor, and we can go downstairs to have breakfast together tomorrow morning."

Of course Pei Xiang would not reject the enthusiastic primary school sister, she smiled and nodded:

"Of course, Alice, I'm glad to be your friend."

Alice took a bite of lamb chops, and continued the previous topic:

"I noticed you glanced at Elizabeth several times. Do you know her?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know Miss Grington. I just saw her because she was the oldest of us. I wondered if I could be with Grington when I left school at 16. Miss Ton is as elegant, calm, and generous."

"Oh, there is no doubt that we can become excellent ladies," Alice said earnestly, "However, our temperament is definitely different from Elizabeth's. Mrs. Colendell said that the students she cultivated are not the same wooden people. , but each has its own merits.”

"Does Mrs. Colendell communicate with the students often?"

"Of course, Mrs. Crundle is at school most of the time, caring about all of us. But, well, during the social season, she's going to be out a lot. My mother said Mrs. Crundle's tea party She was very popular, the dinner parties at her home were distinguished, and outside of school she was a celebrity in London society."

"Has Mrs. Colendell any children?"

"No, that's why she wanted to open a school," Alice suddenly lowered her voice when she said this, "However, once I overheard the teaching assistants chatting, they said that Mr. Colendell had a child, but Not our principal's."

Pei Xiang blinked, changed the topic and said:

"After I came to London, I heard that a dramatist had written a play for Mrs. Colundell."

"Yes, it's a pity that there was no public performance later." Alice sighed and was immediately distracted.

A few seconds later, she happily mentioned another incident:

"Before the dinner, I heard from Elizabeth that we're going to have a new French teacher this year. I wish he or she would be a little more forgiving than Mr. Rosebery before, oh sure, because there's no one like Rosebery. Mr Burry is a tougher teacher."

"New French teacher? Alice, can you tell me something about the course?"

Pei Xiang took some chicken and custard sauce, and listened to Alice introduce the people and things in the school while eating.

Encouraged by Pei Xiang, Alice immediately opened up the chatterbox and talked about her study and life this year with great interest.

"Adele, you have to choose at least two foreign languages. Then, grammar, geography and history are essential subjects, and botany is optional. In terms of talents, you must have a foundation in painting, singing, musical instruments and dancing. After three years, we will choose one or two subjects that we are good at to continue to refine. In addition, outdoor sports such as horseback riding, archery, and playing ball should also be dabbled in, unless you can get a doctor to issue a certificate for your infirmity .”

Pei Xiang is very interested in outdoor sports. After she asked a few questions, she immediately got a brighter smile from Alice.Clearly, this is a lively little girl who loves these projects too.

"Oh, I was worried that you were a quiet girl who liked to read. Miss Phoebe said that you had very good grades in school and read a lot. Oh, Phoebe is a teaching assistant, and she and I are very fond of horseback riding. So it was easy to talk to."

"I'm very curious and like to try everything." Pei Xiang replied with a smile.

Over the course of a meal, Pei Xiang and Alice Van Laer got closer. At the same time, he also got to know some students around him, and listened to the gossip and rumors in the school.

In short, when she came out of the banquet hall, many people had already affectionately called her "Adele".

Thus, Pei Xiang's school life officially started.

Half a month later, Rochester confirmed that Pei Xiang had adapted to the new environment, and "wouldn't cry and cry to go home" - these were the original words in his letter.He rode away from London easily and began his tour.

"I won't live in Thornfield in the future, I will close it. I want to find a comfortable and quiet house near a simple town, and meet a group of warm friends who have nothing to do with my past."

Rochester wrote in the letter:

"Then, as an authentic English squire, I will begin to enjoy a leisurely and peaceful country life, reading newspapers, books, taking walks every day, and attending a few gatherings among neighbors..."

Pei Xiang took a sip of coffee and read Rochester's letter with his head bowed at the desk.

"As for the issue of marriage, I am not in a hurry. This is probably due to the innate rebellious psychology of human beings. When I lost the freedom of marriage, I was eager to have a normal, ordinary and warm family. , I even tried to forget the fact that I was married, and planned to commit the felony of bigamy before God. At that time, I was deeply in the devil, and I would not feel guilty for thinking like that, because I think it is reasonable and can be forgiven and compassionate.

"However, when I took back some of my rights openly, I lost the urgency I once had. I suddenly discovered that in this land of England, there are actually quite a lot of unmarried gentlemen throughout their lives. They live comfortably and have Ning He's indifferent state of mind is more relaxed than many men who marry wives and have children.

"Of course, I still hope to find a life partner, but this is a gift from God, and I will not force anything."

After reading this, Pei Xiang couldn't help raising his eyebrows, thinking that this person is really awkward. When he couldn't choose a partner freely, he searched hard, but now that there are no shackles, he has a new idea.

——However, today's single life has no mental shackles, it is his voluntary choice.Active and passive, after all, are not the same.

After slightly distracted, Pei Xiang continued to read the letter:

"Adele, I am relieved to know that you are doing well at school. Because I am not in London, I have entrusted Mrs. Grant to take care of you. I think, compared to my not-so-famous guardian , the care of a Viscountess will be very beneficial to your growth."

Pei Xiang frowned, but soon relaxed again.She knew that man's hard-spoken and soft-hearted nature, and when it was time for the long vacation, she would go directly to him, and he couldn't drive her away.

——Of course, if he had already fallen in love at that time, I would be wise enough not to be a light bulb.

The second page of Rochester's letter reads:

"If you make it through Lady Colundell's school, I don't think anyone in all England will say that your breeding is unworthy of a single gentleman.

"I have prepared a dowry of three thousand to five thousand pounds for you (the exact amount depends on my future investment return), which is not much, but plus the small sum of money you get from Richard Mason every year, wait until When you talk about marriage, you are confident enough to get a good marriage.

"I know you have a bunch of maverick ideas in your little head, and I guess it has a lot to do with some irresponsible oriental man (blood relationship is such a wonderful and unreasonable thing). But, Now that I have become your legal guardian, I have to make future plans for you according to the standard of a happy life for an ordinary British lady.

"Adele, when you want to plan some 'big events' in a whimsical way, please think about the beating frequency of your guardian's heart. After reading this, I guess you must show a dissatisfied expression. Sure can handle everything.

"In this regard, I have to remind you that accidents happen from time to time, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Don't be afraid just because you are young. Think about my experience. I am still paying for the stupid impulse and vanity of my youth. At the cost, even if I come before God in the future, I will repent.”

Writing here, Rochester's handwriting became a little heavier.It can be seen that deliberately using one's own past as an example for the purpose of educating children is not an easy thing for the person who gave the example.

Probably the writer was emotionally aroused, so he didn't say any more, and quickly wrote the last paragraph.

"Mrs. Colendell's school allows you to meet some important people. Whether it is a true friend of the same age or an acquaintance who can help each other, it can help you build a long-term beneficial relationship network. At the same time, the school employs The teachers also have real talents, even if you want to be a nerd, their knowledge can satisfy you. Therefore, my only request to you is that you don't waste your time, and don't become a lonely person."

The text of the letter ends here.

Pei Xiang looked at the signature. The letter was written in a hotel near London, and the specific time was not marked.She calculated the speed of posting the letter in her mind, and estimated that it was written on the first night after Mr. Rochester left London.

There was a smile on the mouth of the person who read the letter. She slowly folded the letter paper and carefully put it in a locked drawer.

At this time, there was a knock on the door, and after Pei Xiang answered, Alice Van Laer walked in briskly, carrying a fragrant fragrance of flowers all over her body.

"Adele, come on, we're going to Mrs. Bedford's floral class soon, we can't be late."

"There are still 25 minutes, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Oh, I want to compete with Daisy for the position closest to Mrs. Bedford. That lady doesn't come to school very often. I must make her have a good impression of me."

"I don't remember...the last time a certain baroness came to the school to share her new poetry collection, you were not so excited."

"That's different. Mrs. Bedford and my aunt are good friends, and she'll tell my aunt what I'm doing at school, and then my aunt will go to my house and tell my mother and my aunt. . . . God Yeah, I don't want to be the one to get criticized at the next family gathering."

"Well, it seems that many relatives will bring small troubles." Pei Xiang looked at the little girl's wrinkled little round face, and couldn't help laughing, "Alice, let's set off now, I promise you will get Bedford Madame's most attention."

"Oh, actually it doesn't need to be too much. To be honest, although everyone agrees, I don't agree with her aesthetics."

Alice took Pei Xiang's arm and chattered about her family and friends...

Time passed, and soon it was the end of the month.

The school has three days of vacation every month, and students can choose to stay in school or go home. After saying goodbye to Alice, who was eager to go home, Pei Xiang also boarded the carriage of the Viscount Rio Mansion.

As Rochester said in his letter, when he left London, Mrs. Grant would become Pei Xiang's temporary protector, and that lady had prepared a permanent room for Pei Xiang in the Viscount's Mansion.