Kerstin Botezatu, IIIrd Year, group 1, Romanian-English

Nu exista nicio sansa sa iesim la plimbare in acea zi. Intr-adevar, rataciseram

printre tufisurile desfrunzite timp de o ora in acea dimineata; dar pana la lasarea serii
(doamna Reeds, cand nu avea musafiri, lua cina devreme) vantul rece de iarna
adusese cu el nori intunecati si o ploaie atat de puternica, incat orice plimabre in aer
liber iesea acum din discutie.
Eram bucuroasa de asta: niciodata nu mi-au placut plimbarile lungi, mai ales
in dupa-amiezile racoroase: mi se parea ingrozitoare intoarcerea acasa, aproape de
amurg, cu degetele de la maini si picioare inghetate, cu inima grea de dojenile lui
Bessie, dadaca, si umilita de constiinta inferioritatii mele fizice fata de Eliza, John si
Georgiana Reed.
Eliza, John si Georgiana erau acum adunati in jurul mamei lor in atelierul de
pictura: mama statea intinsa pe o sofa, langa foc, si asa, inconjurata de adoratii ei
(care pentru moment nici nu se certau, nici nu plangeau) pareau exterm de fericiti. Pe
mine nu ma primise in grup, spunandu-mi ca “regreta ca trebuie sa ma tina la distanta;
dar pana cand nu aude de la Bessie, si pana cand nu observa ea insasi ca ma straduiesc
serios sa dobandesc o dispozitie mai sociabila si mai copilareasca, un comportament
mai atractiv si mai vioi – sa fiu mai luminoasa, mai sincera, mai naturala decat eram –
ea chiar este nevoita sa ma excluda de la privilegiile menite numai copilasilor
multumiti si fericiti”.
- Ce a spus Bessie ca am facut? am intrebat.
- Jane, nu imi plac cicalitorii si nici curiosii: in plus, este interzis ca un copil
sa ii trateze pe adulti in asa fel. Asaza-te undeva; si fa liniste pana cand ai sa inveti sa
vorbesti respectuos.
Un mic salon pentru mic dejun se invecina cu atelierul de pictura: m-am
strecurat acolo. Inauntru era o bilioteca: mi-am ales imediat un volum, asigurandu-ma
ca era unul intesat de poze. M-am urcat in scaunul de la fereastra: adunandu-mi
picioarele sub mine, m-am asezat turceste, si, avand trasa perdeaua rosie foarte
aproape, eram adapostita, intr-o dubla izolare.
Faldurile draperiei stacojii imi blocau vederea in partea dreapta; in stanga
vedeam ochiurile de geam, care ma protejau, dar nu ma si separau de ziua rece de
noiembrie. Din cand in cand, intorcand paginile cartii mele, studiam aspectul acelei
dupa-amiezi de iarna. Departe, o priveliste oarba, de ceata si nori; in apropiere, se
vedea o peluza umeda si un tufis batut de furtuna, si o ploaie neincetata care lovea cu
salbaticie inaintea fiecarei lungi si lamentabile rafale de vant.
Kerstin Botezatu, IIIrd Year, group 1, Romanian-English

CHAPTER I.(TEXTUL ORIGINAL)

T HERE was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering,
indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed,
when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it
clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further outdoor exercise was now out
of the question.

I was glad of it; I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to
me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart
saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of
my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed.

The said Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered round their mamma in the
drawing-room: she lay reclined on a sofa by the fireside, and with her darlings about
her (for the time neither quarrelling nor crying) looked perfectly happy. Me she had
dispensed from joining the group; saying, "She regretted to be under the necessity of
keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie, and could discover by
her own observation, that I was endeavouring in good earnest to acquire a more
sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner—something
lighter, franker, more natural as it were—she really must exclude me from privileges
intended only for contented, happy, little children."

"What does Bessie say I have done?" I asked.

"Jane, I don't like cavillers or questioners; besides, there is something truly forbidding
in a child taking up her elders in that manner. Be seated somewhere; and until you can
speak pleasantly, remain silent."

A small breakfast-room adjoined the drawing-room, I slipped in there. It contained a

book-case: I soon possessed myself of a volume, taking care that it should be one
stored with pictures. I mounted into the window-seat: gathering up my feet, I sat
cross-legged, like a Turk; and, having drawn the red moreen curtain nearly close, I
was shrined in double retirement.

Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view to the right hand; to the left were the clear
panes of glass, protecting, but not separating me from the drear November day. At
intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter
afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near, a scene of wet lawn
and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and
lamentable blast.