Because they neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical; but THAT did not signify.
Como no la adulaban ni a ella ni a sus niños, no podía creer que fueran de buen natural; y como eran aficionadas a la lectura, las imaginaba satíricas: quizá no sabía exactamente qué era ser satírico, pero eso carecía de importancia.