阅读理解
Emily and Anne did know, of course. They had known about Charlotte's book for a long time. Jane Eyre was not the first book that Charlotte had sent to a publisher. Over a year ago she had written another book, The Professor, and sent it to one publisher after another. Each publisher had sent it back, in a packet addressed to Currer Bell. And then Charlotte had sent it, in the same old packet, to another publisher, and then another, and got it back again.
"Why didn't you change the paper on the packet, my dear?" I asked.
Charlotte smiled. "I didn't think of it, papa. The worst day was when we were Manchester, going to the eye doctor. Do you remember? The packet came back then. That was the day before I started writing Jane Eyre."
"Do you mean that you started writing Jane Eyre while I was lying in the dark room in Manchester?"
"That's right, papa."
"But that's only six months ago, and here is the book in my hand!"
"Yes, papa. The book was printed a month later after I sent it to the publisher."
"My dear! They decided very quickly that they liked it, then!"
"I think they did, papa. After all, it is a good book, isn't it?"
She smiled at me. I don't think I have ever seen her so happy. She is a very small person. Charlotte, and not a beautiful woman, but when she smiles like that, her face shines like a fine painting. My wife used to look like that sometimes when I first met her.
I took her hand in mine. "It is a very good book, my dear. I cannot tell you how proud I am."
She touched my hand. "Thank you, papa. But you must not be proud of me alone. You know, another two of your daughters—Anne and Emily…"
"Oh, no, Charlotte, please!" Emily said.
But Charlotte did not stop. "Anne and Emily have written good books too, and their books will soon be published as well! Let me introduce them to you, papa. These young ladies—Anne and Emily, are "not" your daughters—they are separately Acton Bell and Ellis Bell, brothers of the famous writer Currer Bell!"
Emily's face was bright red, but Anne and Charlotte started laughing. I was very surprised.
"All three of you!" I said. "But—but why do you use these strange names?"
"Because people are stupid, papa." Anne said. "No one thinks women can write good books, so we have used men's names. And now they say that Currer Bell is a writer who understands women very well!" She laughed again.