beauty and money

Although Mary and Thomas broke up, it was the first time that Mary devoted herself to learning with such great enthusiasm after returning to the manor. In her head, she wanted to acquire knowledge frantically so that that annoying egomaniac would be deflated.Mrs. Grace has her own considerations. She is worried that Mary's thirst for knowledge will bring her danger. Since ancient times, women have been considered not to have knowledge, and even if they have knowledge, they must serve the gentlemen. Interesting, men naturally think that women are stupid, and they can only behave well if they are well educated, and learning knowledge is a man's right.

Mary was a mess with people and the world, but that's the quirk of any genius.Women's memory has always been better than men's, and Mary has brought this good memory to the extreme. She can easily recite complex Latin classics, and she is also very clear about philosophy and poetry. She may lack sentiment in emotion but in knowledge. But very serious.

When she first came back to Nemer, she almost didn't sleep all night. Although Thomas' remarks were annoying, he was also knowledgeable and talkative. She seemed to have glimpsed the light of knowledge emerging from the cracks in the patriarchal society.It is the desire for knowledge that has been exploited by men for thousands of years in the confinement of women, but Mary has never lost this desire for knowledge. She began to think whether it is right for her to read books in order to be appreciated by others, and what is the real meaning of reading? To show your talents and get recognized?

Her mind kept thinking about Thomas' contempt and distrust of women's talents. He was by no means an exception. He was so flattering and despised women. Why?

Without Mary's knowledge, there was a slight change in her thinking, a change that no one else wanted to see.Under the narration of the maid Grynn, Mary learned a lot about Thomas. He is an out-and-out genius. He is simply a copy of Mary. The only difference is that Mary is a woman, and her genius is ignored. and ridicule, while Thomas was his father's pride.She began to imagine that if she were a boy, could she also enter Cambridge, refute all those gentlemen, and make them dim?But that's never possible because Mary is a woman.

The information she received from Thomas left Mary very depressed, and Lady Grace believed it was the result of Mary falling into some sort of relationship.Considering Nemer's actual situation, she decided to invite some young people to hold another ball, because young men and women rely on these balls to promote their feelings and get acquainted.

Nemer Manor stands majestic and lonely in the world, where the ancient ghosts seem to sleep eternally.Mary has been a guest here for a long time, but she has never been allowed to visit. She was warned by Mrs. Graillis that there are always some unfriendly shadows lingering in this mysterious manor, and those terrible ghosts seem to have not left.

However, the more she said this, the more imaginative Mary became. However, out of politeness, she never behaved more politely, but her little maid Grynn went deep among the servants and told Mary many secrets.Including the tragic death and curse of Nemer's former master's family, this made Mary fantasize very much.Gralice is going to hold a dance this time, which means that she has the opportunity to walk around in this ancient manor at will, and Madam must have no time to pay attention to her.

For the first time, Mary began to look forward to the ball, and this signal also made Mrs. Grace deeply feel that Mary had a crush on Thomas.When night fell, the evening guests came one after another. Some of them were invited, but most of them came uninvited. The most mysterious manor in this town has never been opened to the public. All kinds of conspiracies and tricks attracted those men and women to investigate.

Of course, Mrs. Graris will not refuse uninvited guests, because this is a very common situation. Originally, the host did not invite so many people, but the guests can learn the news through various channels , to participate in these feasts prepared for young men and women, but it also contributed to many extramarital affairs.

Mary was greeted and sent off with a well-dressed but stiff smile. Since she was a long-term guest of Nemer, she was more familiar with this place than those ladies and ladies, so she had to share the work of the lady to guide those female guests who were always whispering into the ballroom. .

It is a hall that can only be reached through corridors, stone pillars, portraits, and many strange decorations. Supported by twelve black stone pillars, it is three stories high and has a dark vault. Its grandeur is comparable to that of a palace, but its decoration It inherits the darkness of the Gothic style strangely everywhere, even if it is decorated with bright tapestries, golden red curtains, and bright flowers, it still reveals a terrifying big ballroom everywhere.The stairs on both sides spiral up, and there are monsters and stone beasts squatting on the railings.

After Mary led the ladies in, she saw several ladies immediately sitting on the gold velvet couch by the wall. She wanted to remind the ladies that a person had died there, and the blood splashed to the corner of the wall and left indelible marks, so she decided to There was a gold velvet couch for shelter, but she thought it best to keep her mouth shut when she saw that they were already sitting down and looking sweaty.Mary looked around. Her smart and clever maid Grynn was very popular. She got a lot of secrets and told Mary. Choking to death or being killed, everything is full of sinister wind.

Mary's powerful brain quickly flicked through the several Gothic novels she had read. She was wearing an egg blue dress today. For the hopeless white dress, Mary tactfully gave her father a look. A letter, she hopes to advance some money to compensate.

Mr. Ben was very surprised when he got the letter. He had never thought that his daughter's dress would cost so much pounds. Mrs. Ben wrote back to Mary excitedly and in stern terms, asking her to explain what happened. Explain the value of a dress, otherwise it will be difficult to win their trust.When Mary received the letter, she had to describe the dress and who the dressmaker was.

When Mrs. Ben received the letter, she said to her master ecstatically that it should be worth so much. Her third daughter, Mary, finally got the hang of it and began to pay attention to skirts, hats and lace. She held the letter and called Mr. Ben I feel that it is unreasonable. Is it something to be proud of spending money on skirts?Can't these women be merciful and consider the men's headaches over the bills?

Of course, Mrs. Ban strongly condemned this kind of remarks. Gentlemen should and must dress up their wives and daughters. How many things in the social circle are decided by the ladies. If the clothes are too shabby to be despised, then those people will Laugh at the women, and also laugh at the incompetence of the men behind them. The skirts and beauty are the faces of the men.She persuaded her husband to give Mary some more pounds so that she could find a suitable husband outside. This was an investment, as if she had forgotten all the cold war and anger with Mary before.

But now that pound is still on the way, and Mary is still indebted to Mrs. Graillis.Today she is extra careful, because she wears a string of diamond necklaces around her neck, and an emerald in the middle is deep and precious.She wanted to refuse, but Madam insisted that she was only borrowing it temporarily, and she didn't want Mary to be too cautious, but Mary was still cautious, for fear that if she lost it, she would not be able to afford it even if she lost her life.

After the guests entered the venue one after another, Mrs. Grace, the host, danced the opening dance at the invitation of an older gentleman, and then the young people danced separately.Thomas, who was the key referral, invited Mary.

"I apologize for what I said, you're a sensible girl," he said as he danced. Thomas spoke with as phony a look as he could, as if he was saying the words rather than his own.

Mary replied with a sneer: "But not attractive enough? You know, sensible girls are usually very unattractive, especially for gentlemen."

Thomas knew immediately that Mary had caught his false lines, but couldn't leave immediately, because the song was not over yet, and God knew how embarrassing he was.But in order to ease the embarrassment, he still said: "Maybe, but I'm also not likable? You know I can always make ladies hate me, but I hope you don't hate me."

Mary raised her eyebrows and smiled. This gentleman is really self-aware. She said to Thomas: "If you can respect the ladies more, then the ladies will definitely fall for you."

"Don't you think I still don't respect them, I'm such a humble compliment." Thomas's volume increased slightly, his face gradually turned red, and he seemed a little angry.

Mary's complexion was also not good, she said sharply: "You compliment them, but at the same time look down on them in your heart, can this kind of respect make any lady unaware? Mr. Yang, a genius like you, didn't you notice your clumsy performance? It’s really not convincing.”

Thomas immediately blushed, he almost wanted to scold the woman in front of him, her eyes were burning like Artemis aiming at a stag, but his eyes were on the side holding a wine glass and still talking to the hostess, but his attention was always on The father in him, he has tried to get along with ladies of the same family, but obviously his previous experience has made his father lose confidence, this son who needs a lady as his wife is simply stupid in this respect, those noble ladies They weren't the sort of London mobsters he could please for a few bucks.He suppressed his anger and said to Mary what a gentleman should never say: "Since you have noticed my performance, you should know yourself clearly and do some behaviors that conform to your status."

Mary was terrified by Thomas's eyes, and she hated this man even more, so she kept silent after that, and after the dance ended, she said coldly: "You can explain to your father, Miss Mary has a weird temperament, she was born in a small family in the countryside, She doesn't have a rich dowry or an extraordinary appearance, but she is a person with a soul." Mr. Yang's scorching eyes followed them all the time, and if they couldn't notice it, then there was no difference between Mary and a blind man.

Immediately after Thomas heard it, his face was almost clouded, and he walked over to his father and whispered.It caused old Mr. Yang to stare sideways and be surprised. I'm afraid he won't have any good words for Mary.

At this time, a gentle and magnetic voice said: "Can I ask you to dance? Your eyes are so beautiful, as deep as the gemstones you wear."

Mary, who was getting angry, replied bluntly: "If you really pay attention to my eyes, you will find that they are brown and as stubborn as mud and rocks." Mary raised her eyes while retorting, and what caught her eyes was a A very handsome young man.And he was smiling at her with some embarrassment, the snow-white teeth in his honey-colored lips were like white jade, and his emerald green eyes were facing Mary.