《简爱》✍ 第二章：7

I had nothing to say to these words: they were not new to me: my very first recollections of existence included hints of the same kind. This reproach of my dependence had become a vague sing-song in my ear: very painful and crushing, but only half intelligible. Miss Abbot joined in ——

对她们这番话，我无话可说，因为听起来并不新鲜。在我幼年时期最早的记忆中就包含着诸如此类的暗示。这种指责我靠人养活的话，在我耳朵里已经成了含意不明的老生常谈了，尽管听了十分难受和丧气。却叫人有点似懂非懂。阿博特小姐也附和说：

“ And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Misses kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: It is your place  to be humble, and to try to make yourself a-greeable to them.  ”

“你别因为太太好心，容许把你跟里德小姐和少爷放在一块儿带大，就自以为可以跟他们平起平坐了。他们将来会很有钱，你可一个子儿也不会有。你得低声下气，尽量合他们的心意，这才是你的本分。”