英 语 学 习 资 料 1(2)

She was so incredibly un-feminine: she was frank and mocking, and said everything that came into her head without any fear of injuring those handsome gentlemen. To say nothing of the fact she looked them straight in the eye instead of lowering her gaze modestly like a timid young woman should. In order to be loved, a young woman had to make her suitor believe he was the most incredible man in existence, she had to present herself as fragile so that he would yearn to protect her, she should be modest and discreet, and make him believe he truly interested her. She should be attentive to each and every word he spoke, even the most mundane... Madame d’Herblay had given up hope of ever making her daughter understand this. Yet in spite of this, she had to find some way to marry off this child!

Julie should have been firmer with her husband when Renée was a child. It really was his fault Renée was so insupportable! She had wanted to send her to a convent so that she would learn to be modest and to comport herself appropriately as a proper young lady should, but her husband was absolutely crazy about his only child. He had kept her by his side and taught her everything he felt like teaching his child. An absolute disaster! Now, Renée was an accomplished horsewoman, she knew how to handle a foil and a rifle perhaps Better than many men, but was completely incapable of dancing with any grace. Her Father must have forgotten that he was raising a young lady! Worst of all, he’d turned her into a scholar! She read the old Greek philosophers, valiant epics, and poets with doubtful ideas... Her head was stuffed with fanciful ideas and romantic illusions.