I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

When Pei Xiang arrived at the Viscount's Mansion in Rio, he found that Mrs. Grant was about to introduce the two little girls to her.

"Adele, this is Miss Catherine Campbell, and this is Miss Jane Fairfax. You are about the same age, and must have much in common."

The first thing Pei Xiang noticed was Jane Fairfax, not only because the little girl was cuter and more delicate, but also because her surname was Fairfax.

—Mr. Rochester's mother was named Fairfax before her marriage.

Mrs. Campbell, who was sitting next to Mrs. Grant, showed a gentle smile. She had already learned about Pei Xiang's identity from Mrs. Grant.Although the divorced Rochester has been deeply involved in the whirlpool of public opinion recently, he has little relationship with his adopted daughter.

In particular, this little girl has become a student at Mrs. Colendell's girls' school, which makes Mrs. Campbell feel more at ease in letting her daughter meet Pei Xiang.

"Adele, it was a pleasure meeting you. I heard that you adjusted quickly to school life, which is a real pleasure. My daughter Catherine is also planning to go to a girls' school and she loves meeting new people. However, she Already with Jane's company, she definitely couldn't bear to be separated from the little sisters at home, so Catherine still chose to stay at home to receive education from tutors."

Pei Xiang showed a friendly and sincere smile to another little girl, Catherine Campbell, and received the same enthusiastic and joyful feedback from the other party.

During the ensuing conversation, Pei Xiang gradually learned that the beautiful little girl Jane Fairfax did have some relationship with Mr. Rochester.

The little girl's father, Lieutenant Fairfax, who died heroically in foreign battlefields, has the same ancestor as Mr. Rochester's maternal grandfather's family.However, since the last two generations, the two families have almost cut off contact. It is also a coincidence that Miss Fairfax and Pei Xiang got acquainted this time.

Coincidentally, the young guest that Mrs. Grant originally planned to invite was actually Miss Campbell. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Campbell also brought her adopted child Jane Fairfax. During the chat, she mentioned Jane's life experience, and found out The link in this.

"It turns out that Jane's hometown is Highbury, and I also have a distant relative living there. Their surname is Woodhouse."

Jane Fairfax put down the snack in her hand, and replied somewhat cautiously:

"Mrs. Grant, I know the Woodhouse family. Mr. Woodhouse was very generous and kind, and took good care of my aunt and grandmother. And, whenever I visit them in Highbury, I can spend a few times with the two Miss Woodhouses. God, I love them."

Mrs. Grant's eyebrows stretched: "They are all smart and beautiful girls. It would be great if we could become friends."

Mrs. Campbell, who stood aside, added:

"After Jane's parents left, she lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Bates, and aunt, Miss Bates. Later, my husband, Colonel Campbell, returned from the war. In order to repay the care of Lieutenant Fairfax, he took Jane was taken to live by her side, and let her receive the same education as Catherine. In the future...he will have a skill."

When Pei Xiang heard this, he had already figured out the relationship.

The little black-haired girl Jane Fairfax sitting on the sofa at this time is the supporting actress in "Emma".

She lost her parents since she was a child, and her grandmother and aunt who raised her were in poor financial condition, so she has been living in the home of Colonel Campbell, a friend of her father's lifetime, and grew up with Miss Catherine Campbell, the daughter of the Campbells.

In the future, at the beginning of the story of "Emma", Miss Campbell married to Ireland, and Jane Fairfax returned to Highbury because of her growing age and secret engagement, thus reuniting with the protagonist Emma Woodhouse et al. generate intersections.

In Pei Xiang's world, this Miss Jane Fairfax is only eleven or twelve years old at this time, and she has a very distant blood relationship with Mr. Rochester's maternal grandfather's family.

At this time, Theodore, who had just finished class, ran in like a gust of wind, and barely stopped when he found that Mrs. Grant had guests.

After the little gentleman Theodore greeted Mrs. Campbell, he sat down next to Pei Xiang.

After a while, Mrs. Grant signaled Theodore and Pei Xiang to entertain the two little guests, and they didn't have to listen to the "boring conversation" with the adults here.

So, Pei Xiang and Theodore got up and asked Catherine and Jane to go to the children's activity room. There were Theodore's toys, plant specimens and various picture albums. Although they may not be suitable for girls to play, it is better than sitting stiffly beside adults powerful.

After leaving the adult's side, the newly arrived girls gradually overcame the initial strangeness and became lively little by little.

Miss Catherine Campbell was an easy-going little girl, who spoke cheerfully of every little thing in life.Sometimes, when she couldn't remember certain details, she would look at Jane Fairfax very dependently.Then, her friend would remind her very carefully, until Miss Campbell showed a look of sudden realization.

After Miss Campbell finished talking about herself, she began to ask about Pei Xiang's experience in the girls' school. This topic immediately attracted the attention of the other two listeners.

Theodore's eyes suddenly brightened, and soon replaced Catherine Campbell as the main questioner.

"Sister Adele, are you still studying French and German?"

"Yes, the French teacher and the German teacher at the school are very good. I want to keep learning."

"But, sister Adele, you grew up in France before, do you still need to learn French?"

Pei Xiang smiled and asked: "You have been an Englishman since you were born, don't you have to learn English grammar now? You also need to take literature appreciation and writing classes. Theodore, I was young at that time, and I only knew some simple things. Sentences and a small amount of vocabulary, of course I have to continue learning."

"Wow, you are amazing." Catherine said after listening to the conversation between Pei Xiang and Theodore, she snapped her fingers, "So, you are actually learning English, French and German at the same time now, and your English Well said, I thought you were English."

Pei Xiang shook his head: "Actually, there are still two foreign languages, and all the students in the school can do this. As far as I know, some people have chosen more language courses."

Jane Fairfax on the side asked curiously:

"Then do you have spare time to study other subjects?"

Pei Xiang recounted his first grade schedule and explained in detail:

"There are many types of courses in the school, but it is not necessary to learn every subject intensively. Many of them are just learning the basics. We also have a lot of time for relaxation and entertainment."

Catherine Campbell patted her chest exaggeratedly after listening to Pei Xiang's class schedule:

"Thanks that I didn't go to school. It sounds uncomfortable at all. I thought it was only for boys to be graded. Jane, let's treat Miss Smith and Mr. Bruce better in the future. They treat me better." The course schedule between the two is really too loose.”

Jian smiled lightly, but she was a little envious of Pei Xiang getting better educational resources.

Before Pei Xiang arrived at the Viscount's Mansion in Rio, Jane had already learned about Pei Xiang's life experience from the conversation between Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Campbell.The two of them are also dependent on others, but the treatment they receive is completely different. Of course, from the current point of view, the future development of the two will also be different.

Colonel Campbell's family intends to train Jane Fairfax to be a teacher, hoping that she will be able to support herself in the future.

Although it is hard to bear to see the children who grow up around them completely leave the upper class, the Campbells and his wife can't do more, because they must leave all their property to their own daughters.

Mr. Rochester, Pei Xiang's guardian, is richer than Colonel Campbell and has no family yet.Therefore, before he left London, he disclosed to his temporary protector, Mrs. Grant, that Pei Xiang would have a dowry of at least [-] pounds in the future, and of course, it might be more.

Thinking of the uncertain future, Jane Fairfax was a little dazed, but was soon brought back to her mind by Catherine Campbell's laughter.

She looked at the little sisters around her, thought of Highbury's grandmother and aunt who cared about her all the time, thought of the upright and kind Campbells, and suddenly felt that she was very lucky.

——I have received the love of many people, selfless love, which is even rarer than a fortune.

Thinking about it this way, Jane Fairfax felt that Pei Xiang was not as lucky as her, because she had relatives by her side, and there were three members of the Campbell family, but the other party had only a guardian with a bad reputation.Moreover, that guardian is a single gentleman, and he obviously cannot take good care of a little girl and give her the guidance and care of female elders who are indispensable in her growth.

Pei Xiang didn't know that in just a moment, he had changed from a child who was envied to a child worthy of sympathy.Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn't care, because she paid more attention to the mood of her little friend Theodore at this time.

She found that as the four gradually became acquainted, there was a subtle rejection in Theodore's eyes—for Jane and Catherine.

"Theodore, do you have class in the afternoon?" Pei Xiang tentatively shifted the topic to the little boy.

Sure enough, Theodore couldn't help but bend his eyes, and at the same time raised his hand to touch his forehead-this was a small gesture when he was really happy.

"I was going to play with Ruby, but my mother said that I have guests today, so I won't practice riding for now."

Pei Xiang raised his eyebrows, thinking that the child was upset just now, is it because he doesn't like being ignored?

However, she quickly overturned her judgment, because Catherine Campbell immediately asked with interest when she heard Theodore mention the matter of riding a horse:

"Ruby? Is that your horse's name? How old is he? What color is he? What's his temperament? How do you ride? Are you good?"

When Theodore used to talk about his pony with Pei Xiang, he was eloquent, but now facing Catherine's attention and questions, he lost a lot of enthusiasm.

Although he tried his best to be as polite as an eight-year-old gentleman, his answer was very short and polite.

Of course, Pei Xiang would not neglect the other little girl. She turned her head slightly and asked Jane Fairfax about the scenery of Highbury.

Jane's impression of her hometown was not deep, but it was enough to give a general introduction. She described the fields and hills there, and the climate of the seasons.

The two didn't say a few words, and Theodore suddenly suggested:

"Sister Adele, let's go down and see Ruby, you haven't looked at him before."

Pei Xiang asked Jane and Catherine, and the two little girls expressed their willingness to go outside, so the group left the children's activity room and walked outside.

On the way, Theodore suddenly became talkative. He told Catherine a lot of interesting things about Ruby the pony and encouraged her to find out for herself.

Pei Xiang listened occasionally and found that some interesting things did not happen to Ruby, such as flicking her tail three times after eating an apple, or liking to hear people sing.

——This is a little habit of Mr. Rochester's black horse Maeslow, and she mentioned a few words to Theodore before.

——Has Theodore reached the stage of boasting in front of girls to save face?

—or was he simply trying to show off his pony?

When they got near the stables, the horse trainer led Ruby out.

Catherine became very interested in Ruby because of Theodore's words, and immediately approached Ruby under the protection of her servants, and tried to repeat those "interesting events".

Jane Fairfax is not very interested in horses, but because of Catherine's liking, she also has to accompany her to admire "handsome and clever Ruby".

The guests have new fun, and as the host of the entertaining party, of course, they must try their best to satisfy them.So, Theodore ordered the people around him to play with Catherine and Jane, and carefully told them to pay attention to safety.

Then, using the sun as an excuse, he dragged Pei Xiang to sit under the white canvas awning, and ate the fruit with a relaxed expression.

"Ruby has been looking back at you, you are his little master, don't you go up and touch him to say hello?"

"I can see Ruby every day, but the guests rarely come. Sister Adele, let them play with Ruby, we can chat."

Pei Xiang smiled, thinking that this little guy has a strong monopoly mentality.He was secretly depressed before, probably because he was worried that his good friend would be snatched away by children of the same age, but it was not easy to come up with such an idea.

—Well, the eight-year-old little gentleman is beginning to know how to play around.

"What do you want to talk about, Theodore?"

"Sister Adele, have you made any new friends at school?"

"Of course, there are several, but because of my age, I spend the most time with Miss Alice Van Laer."

Theodore angrily ate two pieces of pineapple in one bite. After a while, he asked in a low voice:

"Is that Miss Van Lair very bright? Has she had as many lessons as Sister Adele?"

Pei Xiang already understood Theodore's little awkwardness at this time, she held back a smile and thought about it seriously, and then said slowly:

"Miss Van Lair is very smart, but she didn't choose too many courses for herself, and I have different interests from hers. So during the day, we are separated most of the time. Only the time period from evening to dinner , I’m always with her because we’re in the same needlework group and we both like to finish female red works at that time.”

After listening to Pei Xiang's words, Theodore felt satisfied immediately, because he still firmly occupied the position of best friend.

—William and Norton have grown up and are studying outside, so they can't always play with sister Adele.

——The classmates in the girls' school are either old or a little stupid, and they must not suit Sister Adele's wishes.

——As for the two guests today, there is no threat at all.So, I'm still sister Adele's favorite little friend.

After a while, Catherine and Jane gave up playing with Ruby the pony and walked towards Pei Xiang.

At this time, Theodore has already realized that today's guests are not to be feared compared to the classmates who accompany him day and night at school.

In the evening, when Mrs. Grant said good night to her son, she got "criticism" from her son.

"Mother, you should not have Miss Campbell and Miss Fairfax to your house, especially on a day like this."

Mrs. Grant was a little surprised:

"What's the matter today? Don't you like Miss Campbell and Miss Fairfax? Oh, that's all right, mother asked them to make Adele happy. If you're not used to it, you can play with Ruby, You can also go archery and fishing, I will let Andrew, who is very playful, accompany you, okay?"

"No, Mom, that's not right."

Theodore said with a serious face:

"Those two little girls are a bit stupid. If you invite them here, you will trouble Sister Adele to take care of them, and it will make Sister Adele even more tired. Besides, I have a lot of questions to ask Sister Adele." , You have disrupted my study arrangement by doing this."

Mrs. Grant knew her son better. After listening to the little guy's righteous speech, she realized that half of the reasons were nonsense.

"When Adele gets along with you, she is also taking care of you. You are just a little trouble. Besides, I hired several tutors for you, and they can answer any questions you have."

"I'm different from the rest," cried Theodore angrily, "and I'm not Sister Adele's little trouble."

Mrs. Grant raised her eyebrows and looked at Theodore with folded arms.

Theodore raised his chin confidently:

"As you said, I'm smarter than William and Norton. I'm a quick learner, I can talk, and I know how to be a caring friend. Mom, don't you believe me?"

"However, there will be more common topics between girls." Mrs. Grant hesitated.

Theodore immediately said:

"I think that Sister Adele is very happy with you. You two can talk a lot, and I can't get in the mouth. Therefore, it is enough to have me and you at home, and there is no need for other children."

Mrs. Grant squinted her eyes, feeling that her son was calling her childish in disguise.

For an elegant and mature lady, to be able to talk and have fun with a girl of about ten years old... this kind of thing is not something to be proud of.

"Listen, Theodore, it is I, your mother, who is taking care of little Adele in an adult way."

"Oh, you are an adult, so you say yes."

"..."

So, the mother and son broke up unhappy.

The next morning, Theodore did not find Pei Xiang after class.

"Where is Sister Adele?"

"Madam took Miss Duran out for shopping. She said she would customize clothes and accessories for Miss Duran, buy some daily necessities, and try to fulfill the responsibility of a female elder."

Theodore suddenly felt that adults were really childish.

"When will they be back, before afternoon tea?"

"Madam explained before going out that she would take Miss Duran to the Wilson-Berwick Garden for afternoon tea, and they would not return home until dinner."

Theodore: ... so angry!