There were moments when I was bewildered by the terror he inspired, because I had no appeal whatever against either his menaces or his inflictions; the servants did not like to offend their young master by taking my part against him, and Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse me, though he did both now and then in her very presence, more frequently, however, behind her back.
Il y avait des moments où je devenais sauvage par la terreur qu'il m'inspirait; car, lorsqu'il me menaçait ou me châtiait, je ne pouvais en appeler à personne. Les serviteurs auraient craint d'offenser leur jeune maître en prenant ma défense, et Mme Reed était aveugle et sourde sur ce sujet!