牛津书虫第6级6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 34

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Chapter34

ItwasnearChristmasbythetimeallwassettled:theseasonofgeneralholidayapproached.InowclosedMortonschool,takingcarethatthepartingshouldnotbebarrenonmyside.Goodfortuneopensthehandaswellastheheartwonderfully;andtogivesomewhatwhenwehavelargelyreceived,isbuttoaffordaventtotheunusualebullitionofthesensations.Ihadlongfeltwithpleasurethatmanyofmyrusticscholarslikedme,andwhenweparted,thatconsciousnesswasconfirmed:theymanifestedtheiraffectionplainlyandstrongly.DeepwasmygratificationtofindIhadreallyaplaceintheirunsophisticatedhearts:IpromisedthemthatneveraweekshouldpassinfuturethatIdidnotvisitthem,andgivethemanhour’steachingintheirschool.

Mr.Riverscameupas,havingseentheclasses,nownumberingsixtygirls,fileoutbeforeme,andlockedthedoor,Istoodwiththekeyinmyhand,exchangingafewwordsofspecialfarewellwithsomehalf-dozenofmybestscholars:asdecent,respectable,modest,andwell-informedyoungwomenascouldbefoundintheranksoftheBritishpeasantry.Andthatissayingagreatdeal;forafterall,theBritishpeasantryarethebesttaught,bestmannered,mostself-respectingofanyinEurope:sincethosedaysIhaveseenpaysannesandBauerinnen;andthebestofthemseemedtomeignorant,coarse,andbesotted,comparedwithmyMortongirls.

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“Doyouconsideryouhavegotyourrewardforaseasonofexertion?”askedMr.Rivers,whentheyweregone.“Doesnottheconsciousnessofhavingdonesomereal

goodinyourdayandgenerationgivepleasure?”“Doubtless.”

“Andyouhaveonlytoiledafewmonths!Wouldnotalifedevotedtothetaskofregeneratingyourracebewellspent?”

“Yes,”Isaid;“butIcouldnotgoonforeverso:Iwanttoenjoymyownfacultiesaswellastocultivatethoseofotherpeople.Imustenjoythemnow;don’trecalleithermymindorbodytotheschool;Iamoutofitanddisposedforfullholiday.”

Helookedgrave.“Whatnow?Whatsuddeneagernessisthisyouevince?Whatareyougoingtodo?”

“Tobeactive:asactiveasIcan.AndfirstImustbegyoutosetHannahatliberty,andgetsomebodyelseto

waitonyou.”

“Doyouwanther?”

“Yes,togowithmetoMoorHouse.DianaandMarywillbeathomeinaweek,andIwanttohaveeverythinginorderagainsttheirarrival.”

“Iunderstand.Ithoughtyouwereforflyingoffonsomeexcursion.Itisbetterso:Hannahshallgowithyou.”

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“Tellhertobereadybyto-morrowthen;andhereistheschoolroomkey:Iwillgiveyouthekeyofmycottageinthemorning.”

Hetookit.“Yougiveitupverygleefully,”saidhe;“Idon’tquiteunderstandyourlight-heartedness,becauseIcannottellwhatemploymentyouproposetoyourselfasasubstitutefortheoneyouarerelinquishing.Whataim,whatpurpose,whatambitioninlifehaveyounow?”

“MyfirstaimwillbetoCLEANDOWN(doyoucomprehendthefullforceoftheexpression?)—toCLEANDOWNMoorHousefromchambertocellar;mynexttorubitupwithbees-wax,oil,andanindefinitenumberofcloths,tillitglittersagain;mythird,toarrangeeverychair,table,bed,carpet,withmathematicalprecision;afterwardsIshallgoneartoruinyouincoalsandpeattokeepupgoodfiresineveryroom;andlastly,thetwodaysprecedingthatonwhichyoursistersareexpectedwillbedevotedbyHannahandmetosuchabeatingofeggs,sortingofcurrants,gratingofspices,compoundingofChristmascakes,choppingupofmaterialsformince-pies,andsolemnisingofotherculinaryrites,aswordscanconveybutaninadequatenotionoftotheuninitiatedlikeyou.Mypurpose,inshort,istohaveallthingsinanabsolutelyperfectstateofreadinessforDianaandMarybeforenextThursday;andmyambitionistogivethem

abeau-idealofawelcomewhentheycome.”St.Johnsmiledslightly:stillhewasdissatisfied.

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“Itisallverywellforthepresent,”saidhe;“butseriously,Itrustthatwhenthefirstflushofvivacityisover,youwilllookalittlehigherthandomesticendearmentsandhouseholdjoys.”

“Thebestthingstheworldhas!”Iinterrupted.

“No,Jane,no:thisworldisnotthesceneoffruition;donotattempttomakeitso:norofrest;donotturnslothful.”

“Imean,onthecontrary,tobebusy.”

“Jane,Iexcuseyouforthepresent:twomonths’graceIallowyouforthefullenjoymentofyournewposition,andforpleasingyourselfwiththislate-foundcharmofrelationship;butTHEN,IhopeyouwillbegintolookbeyondMoorHouseandMorton,andsisterlysociety,andtheselfishcalmandsensualcomfortofcivilisedaffluence.Ihopeyourenergieswillthenoncemoretroubleyouwiththeirstrength.”

Ilookedathimwithsurprise.“St.John,”Isaid,“Ithinkyouarealmostwickedtotalkso.Iamdisposedtobeascontentasaqueen,andyoutrytostirmeuptorestlessness!Towhatend?”

“TotheendofturningtoprofitthetalentswhichGodhascommittedtoyourkeeping;andofwhichHewillsurelyonedaydemandastrictaccount.Jane,Ishallwatchyoucloselyandanxiously—Iwarnyouofthat.Andtrytorestrainthedisproportionatefervourwithwhichyouthrowyourselfintocommonplacehome

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pleasures.Don’tclingsotenaciouslytotiesoftheflesh;saveyourconstancyandardourforanadequatecause;forbeartowastethemontritetransientobjects.Doyouhear,Jane?”

“Yes;justasifyouwerespeakingGreek.IfeelIhaveadequatecausetobehappy,andIWILLbehappy.Goodbye!”

HappyatMoorHouseIwas,andhardIworked;andsodidHannah:shewascharmedtoseehowjovialIcouldbeamidstthebustleofahouseturnedtopsy-turvy—howIcouldbrush,anddust,andclean,andcook.Andreally,afteradayortwoofconfusionworseconfounded,itwasdelightfulbydegreestoinvokeorderfromthechaosourselveshadmade.IhadpreviouslytakenajourneytoS-topurchasesomenewfurniture:mycousinshavinggivenmeCARTEBLANCHEtoeffectwhatalterationsIpleased,andasumhavingbeensetasideforthatpurpose.Theordinarysitting-roomandbedroomsIleftmuchastheywere:forIknewDianaandMarywouldderivemorepleasurefromseeingagaintheoldhomelytables,andchairs,andbeds,thanfromthespectacleofthesmartestinnovations.Stillsomenoveltywasnecessary,togivetotheirreturnthepiquancywithwhichIwishedittobeinvested.Darkhandsomenewcarpetsandcurtains,anarrangementofsomecarefullyselectedantiqueornamentsinporcelainandbronze,newcoverings,andmirrors,anddressing-cases,forthetoilettables,answeredtheend:theylookedfreshwithoutbeingglaring.AspareparlourandbedroomI

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refurnishedentirely,witholdmahoganyandcrimsonupholstery:Ilaidcanvasonthepassage,andcarpetsonthestairs.Whenallwasfinished,IthoughtMoorHouseascompleteamodelofbrightmodestsnugnesswithin,asitwas,atthisseason,aspecimenofwintrywasteanddesertdrearinesswithout.

TheeventfulThursdayatlengthcame.Theywereexpectedaboutdark,andereduskfireswerelitupstairsandbelow;thekitchenwasinperfecttrim;HannahandIweredressed,andallwasinreadiness.

St.Johnarrivedfirst.Ihadentreatedhimtokeepquiteclearofthehousetilleverythingwasarranged:and,indeed,thebareideaofthecommotion,atoncesordidandtrivial,goingonwithinitswallssufficedtoscarehimtoestrangement.Hefoundmeinthekitchen,watchingtheprogressofcertaincakesfortea,thenbaking.Approachingthehearth,heasked,“IfIwasatlastsatisfiedwithhousemaid’swork?”Iansweredbyinvitinghimtoaccompanymeonageneralinspectionoftheresultofmylabours.Withsomedifficulty,Igothimtomakethetourofthehouse.HejustlookedinatthedoorsIopened;andwhenhehadwanderedupstairsanddownstairs,hesaidImusthavegonethroughagreatdealoffatigueandtroubletohaveeffectedsuchconsiderablechangesinsoshortatime:butnotasyllabledidheutterindicatingpleasureintheimprovedaspectofhisabode.

Thissilencedampedme.Ithoughtperhapsthealterationshaddisturbedsomeoldassociationshe

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valued.Iinquiredwhetherthiswasthecase:nodoubtinasomewhatcrest-fallentone.

“Notatall;hehad,onthecontrary,remarkedthatIhadscrupulouslyrespectedeveryassociation:hefeared,indeed,Imusthavebestowedmorethoughtonthematterthanitwasworth.Howmanyminutes,forinstance,hadIdevotedtostudyingthearrangementofthisveryroom?—By-the-bye,couldItellhimwheresuchabookwas?”

Ishowedhimthevolumeontheshelf:hetookitdown,andwithdrawingtohisaccustomedwindowrecess,hebegantoreadit.

Now,Ididnotlikethis,reader.St.Johnwasagoodman;butIbegantofeelhehadspokentruthofhimselfwhenhesaidhewashardandcold.Thehumanitiesandamenitiesoflifehadnoattractionforhim—itspeacefulenjoymentsnocharm.Literally,helivedonlytoaspire—afterwhatwasgoodandgreat,certainly;butstillhewouldneverrest,norapproveofothersrestingroundhim.AsIlookedathisloftyforehead,stillandpaleasawhitestone—athisfinelineamentsfixedinstudy—Icomprehendedallatoncethathewouldhardlymakeagoodhusband:thatitwouldbeatryingthingtobehiswife.Iunderstood,asbyinspiration,thenatureofhisloveforMissOliver;Iagreedwithhimthatitwasbutaloveofthesenses.Icomprehendedhowheshoulddespisehimselfforthefeverishinfluenceitexercisedoverhim;howheshouldwishtostifleanddestroyit;howheshouldmistrustitsever

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conductingpermanentlytohishappinessorhers.Isawhewasofthematerialfromwhichnaturehewsherheroes—ChristianandPagan—herlawgivers,herstatesmen,herconquerors:asteadfastbulwarkforgreatintereststorestupon;but,atthefireside,toooftenacoldcumbrouscolumn,gloomyandoutofplace.

“Thisparlourisnothissphere,”Ireflected:“theHimalayanridgeorCaffrebush,eventheplague-cursedGuineaCoastswampwouldsuithimbetter.Wellmayheeschewthecalmofdomesticlife;itisnothiselement:therehisfacultiesstagnate—theycannotdeveloporappeartoadvantage.Itisinscenesofstrifeanddanger—wherecourageisproved,andenergyexercised,andfortitudetasked—thathewillspeakandmove,theleaderandsuperior.Amerrychildwouldhavetheadvantageofhimonthishearth.Heisrighttochooseamissionary’scareer—Iseeitnow.”

“Theyarecoming!theyarecoming!”criedHannah,throwingopentheparlourdoor.AtthesamemomentoldCarlobarkedjoyfully.OutIran.Itwasnowdark;butarumblingofwheelswasaudible.Hannahsoonhadalanternlit.Thevehiclehadstoppedatthewicket;thedriveropenedthedoor:firstonewell-knownform,thenanother,steppedout.InaminuteIhadmyfaceundertheirbonnets,incontactfirstwithMary’ssoftcheek,thenwithDiana’sflowingcurls.Theylaughed—kissedme—thenHannah:pattedCarlo,whowashalfwildwithdelight;askedeagerlyifallwaswell;andbeingassuredintheaffirmative,hastenedintothehouse.

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TheywerestiffwiththeirlongandjoltingdrivefromWhitcross,andchilledwiththefrostynightair;buttheirpleasantcountenancesexpandedtothecheerfulfirelight.WhilethedriverandHannahbroughtintheboxes,theydemandedSt.John.Atthismomentheadvancedfromtheparlour.Theyboththrewtheirarmsroundhisneckatonce.Hegaveeachonequietkiss,saidinalowtoneafewwordsofwelcome,stoodawhiletobetalkedto,andthen,intimatingthathesupposedtheywouldsoonrejoinhimintheparlour,withdrewthereastoaplaceofrefuge.

Ihadlittheircandlestogoupstairs,butDianahadfirsttogivehospitableordersrespectingthedriver;thisdone,bothfollowedme.Theyweredelightedwiththerenovationanddecorationsoftheirrooms;withthenewdrapery,andfreshcarpets,andrichtintedchinavases:theyexpressedtheirgratificationungrudgingly.Ihadthepleasureoffeelingthatmyarrangementsmettheirwishesexactly,andthatwhatIhaddoneaddedavividcharmtotheirjoyousreturnhome.

Sweetwasthatevening.Mycousins,fullofexhilaration,weresoeloquentinnarrativeandcomment,thattheirfluencycoveredSt.John’staciturnity:hewassincerelygladtoseehissisters;butintheirglowoffervourandflowofjoyhecouldnotsympathise.Theeventoftheday—thatis,thereturnofDianaandMary—pleasedhim;buttheaccompanimentsofthatevent,thegladtumult,thegarrulousgleeofreceptionirkedhim:Isawhewishedthecalmermorrowwascome.Intheverymeridianof

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thenight’senjoyment,aboutanhouraftertea,arapwasheardatthedoor.Hannahenteredwiththeintimationthat“apoorladwascome,atthatunlikelytime,tofetchMr.Riverstoseehismother,whowasdrawingaway.”

“Wheredoesshelive,Hannah?”

“ClearupatWhitcrossBrow,almostfourmilesoff,andmoorandmossalltheway.”

“TellhimIwillgo.”

“I’msure,sir,youhadbetternot.It’stheworstroadtotravelafterdarkthatcanbe:there’snotrackatalloverthebog.Andthenitissuchabitternight—thekeenestwindyoueverfelt.Youhadbettersendword,sir,thatyouwillbethereinthemorning.”

Buthewasalreadyinthepassage,puttingonhiscloak;andwithoutoneobjection,onemurmur,hedeparted.Itwasthennineo’clock:hedidnotreturntillmidnight.Starvedandtiredenoughhewas:buthelookedhappierthanwhenhesetout.Hehadperformedanactofduty;madeanexertion;felthisownstrengthtodoanddeny,andwasonbettertermswithhimself.

Iamafraidthewholeoftheensuingweektriedhispatience.ItwasChristmasweek:wetooktonosettledemployment,butspentitinasortofmerrydomesticdissipation.Theairofthemoors,thefreedomofhome,thedawnofprosperity,actedonDianaandMary’s

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spiritslikesomelife-givingelixir:theyweregayfrommorningtillnoon,andfromnoontillnight.Theycouldalwaystalk;andtheirdiscourse,witty,pithy,original,hadsuchcharmsforme,thatIpreferredlisteningto,andsharinginit,todoinganythingelse.St.Johndidnotrebukeourvivacity;butheescapedfromit:hewasseldominthehouse;hisparishwaslarge,thepopulationscattered,andhefounddailybusinessinvisitingthesickandpoorinitsdifferentdistricts.

Onemorningatbreakfast,Diana,afterlookingalittlepensiveforsomeminutes,askedhim,“Ifhisplanswereyetunchanged.”

“Unchangedandunchangeable,”wasthereply.AndheproceededtoinformusthathisdeparturefromEnglandwasnowdefinitivelyfixedfortheensuingyear.

“AndRosamondOliver?”suggestedMary,thewordsseemingtoescapeherlipsinvoluntarily:fornosoonerhadsheutteredthem,thanshemadeagestureasifwishingtorecallthem.St.Johnhadabookinhishand—itwashisunsocialcustomtoreadatmeals—heclosedit,andlookedup,

“RosamondOliver,”saidhe,“isabouttobemarriedtoMr.Granby,oneofthebestconnectedandmostestimableresidentsinS-,grandsonandheirtoSirFredericGranby:Ihadtheintelligencefromherfatheryesterday.”

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Hissisterslookedateachotherandatme;weallthreelookedathim:hewassereneasglass.

“Thematchmusthavebeengotuphastily,”saidDiana:“theycannothaveknowneachotherlong.”

“Buttwomonths:theymetinOctoberatthecountyballatS-.Butwheretherearenoobstaclestoaunion,asinthepresentcase,wheretheconnectionisineverypointdesirable,delaysareunnecessary:theywillbemarriedassoonasS-Place,whichSirFredericgivesuptothem,canherefittedfortheirreception.”

ThefirsttimeIfoundSt.Johnaloneafterthiscommunication,Ifelttemptedtoinquireiftheeventdistressedhim:butheseemedsolittletoneedsympathy,that,sofarfromventuringtoofferhimmore,IexperiencedsomeshameattherecollectionofwhatIhadalreadyhazarded.Besides,Iwasoutofpracticeintalkingtohim:hisreservewasagainfrozenover,andmyfranknesswascongealedbeneathit.Hehadnotkepthispromiseoftreatingmelikehissisters;hecontinuallymadelittlechillingdifferencesbetweenus,whichdidnotatalltendtothedevelopmentofcordiality:inshort,nowthatIwasacknowledgedhiskinswoman,andlivedunderthesameroofwithhim,Ifeltthedistancebetweenustobefargreaterthanwhenhehadknownmeonlyasthevillageschoolmistress.WhenIrememberedhowfarIhadoncebeenadmittedtohisconfidence,Icouldhardlycomprehendhispresentfrigidity.

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Suchbeingthecase,Ifeltnotalittlesurprisedwhenheraisedhisheadsuddenlyfromthedeskoverwhichhewasstooping,andsaid-

“Yousee,Jane,thebattleisfoughtandthevictorywon.”

Startledatbeingthusaddressed,Ididnotimmediatelyreply:afteramoment’shesitationIanswered-

“Butareyousureyouarenotinthepositionofthoseconquerorswhosetriumphshavecostthemtoodear?Wouldnotsuchanotherruinyou?”

“Ithinknot;andifIwere,itdoesnotmuchsignify;Ishallneverbecalledupontocontendforsuchanother.Theeventoftheconflictisdecisive:mywayisnowclear;IthankGodforit!”Sosaying,hereturnedtohispapersandhissilence.

Asourmutualhappiness(i.e.,Diana’s,Mary’s,andmine)settledintoaquietercharacter,andweresumedourusualhabitsandregularstudies,St.Johnstayedmoreathome:hesatwithusinthesameroom,sometimesforhourstogether.WhileMarydrew,Dianapursuedacourseofencyclopaedicreadingshehad(tomyaweandamazement)undertaken,andIfaggedawayatGerman,heponderedamysticloreofhisown:thatofsomeEasterntongue,theacquisitionofwhichhethoughtnecessarytohisplans.

Thusengaged,heappeared,sittinginhisownrecess,quietandabsorbedenough;butthatblueeyeofhishad

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ahabitofleavingtheoutlandish-lookinggrammar,andwanderingover,andsometimesfixinguponus,hisfellow-students,withacuriousintensityofobservation:ifcaught,itwouldbeinstantlywithdrawn;yeteverandanon,itreturnedsearchinglytoourtable.Iwonderedwhatitmeant:Iwondered,too,atthepunctualsatisfactionheneverfailedtoexhibitonanoccasionthatseemedtomeofsmallmoment,namely,myweeklyvisittoMortonschool;andstillmorewasIpuzzledwhen,ifthedaywasunfavourable,iftherewassnow,orrain,orhighwind,andhissistersurgedmenottogo,hewouldinvariablymakelightoftheirsolicitude,andencouragemetoaccomplishthetaskwithoutregardtotheelements.

“Janeisnotsuchaweaklingasyouwouldmakeher,”hewouldsay:“shecanbearamountainblast,orashower,orafewflakesofsnow,aswellasanyofus.Herconstitutionisbothsoundandelastic;—bettercalculatedtoendurevariationsofclimatethanmanymorerobust.”

AndwhenIreturned,sometimesagooddealtired,andnotalittleweather-beaten,Ineverdaredcomplain,becauseIsawthattomurmurwouldbetovexhim:onalloccasionsfortitudepleasedhim;thereversewasaspecialannoyance.

Oneafternoon,however,Igotleavetostayathome,becauseIreallyhadacold.HissistersweregonetoMortoninmystead:IsatreadingSchiller;he,decipheringhiscrabbedOrientalscrolls.AsIexchanged

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atranslationforanexercise,Ihappenedtolookhisway:thereIfoundmyselfundertheinfluenceoftheever-watchfulblueeye.Howlongithadbeensearchingmethroughandthrough,andoverandover,Icannottell:sokeenwasit,andyetsocold,Ifeltforthemomentsuperstitious—asifIweresittingintheroom

withsomethinguncanny.

“Jane,whatareyoudoing?”

“LearningGerman.”

“IwantyoutogiveupGermanandlearn

Hindostanee.”

“Youarenotinearnest?”

“InsuchearnestthatImusthaveitso:andIwilltellyouwhy.”

HethenwentontoexplainthatHindostaneewasthelanguagehewashimselfatpresentstudying;that,asheadvanced,hewasapttoforgetthecommencement;thatitwouldassisthimgreatlytohaveapupilwithwhomhemightagainandagaingoovertheelements,andsofixthemthoroughlyinhismind;thathischoicehadhoveredforsometimebetweenmeandhissisters;butthathehadfixedonmebecausehesawIcouldsitatataskthelongestofthethree.WouldIdohimthisfavour?Ishouldnot,perhaps,havetomakethesacrificelong,asitwantednowbarelythreemonthstohisdeparture.

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St.Johnwasnotamantobelightlyrefused:youfeltthateveryimpressionmadeonhim,eitherforpainorpleasure,wasdeep-gravedandpermanent.Iconsented.WhenDianaandMaryreturned,theformerfoundherscholartransferredfromhertoherbrother:shelaughed,andbothsheandMaryagreedthatSt.Johnshouldneverhavepersuadedthemtosuchastep.He

answeredquietly-

“Iknowit.”

Ifoundhimaverypatient,veryforbearing,andyetanexactingmaster:heexpectedmetodoagreatdeal;andwhenIfulfilledhisexpectations,he,inhisownway,fullytestifiedhisapprobation.Bydegrees,heacquiredacertaininfluenceovermethattookawaymylibertyofmind:hispraiseandnoticeweremorerestrainingthanhisindifference.Icouldnolongertalkorlaughfreelywhenhewasby,becauseatiresomelyimportunateinstinctremindedmethatvivacity(atleastinme)wasdistastefultohim.Iwassofullyawarethatonlyseriousmoodsandoccupationswereacceptable,thatinhispresenceeveryefforttosustainorfollowanyotherbecamevain:Ifellunderafreezingspell.Whenhesaid“go,”Iwent;“come,”Icame;“dothis,”Ididit.ButIdidnotlovemyservitude:Iwished,manyatime,hehadcontinuedtoneglectme.

Oneeveningwhen,atbedtime,hissistersandIstoodroundhim,biddinghimgood-night,hekissedeachofthem,aswashiscustom;and,aswasequallyhiscustom,hegavemehishand.Diana,whochancedto

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beinafrolicsomehumour(SHEwasnotpainfullycontrolledbyhiswill;forhers,inanotherway,wasasstrong),exclaimed-

“St.John!youusedtocallJaneyourthirdsister,butyoudon’ttreatherassuch:youshouldkisshertoo.”

Shepushedmetowardshim.IthoughtDianaveryprovoking,andfeltuncomfortablyconfused;andwhileIwasthusthinkingandfeeling,St.Johnbenthishead;hisGreekfacewasbroughttoalevelwithmine,hiseyesquestionedmyeyespiercingly—hekissedme.Therearenosuchthingsasmarblekissesoricekisses,orIshouldsaymyecclesiasticalcousin’ssalutebelongedtooneoftheseclasses;buttheremaybeexperimentkisses,andhiswasanexperimentkiss.Whengiven,heviewedmetolearntheresult;itwasnotstriking:IamsureIdidnotblush;perhapsImighthaveturnedalittlepale,forIfeltasifthiskisswereasealaffixedtomyfetters.Heneveromittedtheceremonyafterwards,andthegravityandquiescencewithwhichIunderwentit,seemedtoinvestitforhimwithacertaincharm.

Asforme,Idailywishedmoretopleasehim;buttodoso,IfeltdailymoreandmorethatImustdisownhalfmynature,stiflehalfmyfaculties,wrestmytastesfromtheiroriginalbent,forcemyselftotheadoptionofpursuitsforwhichIhadnonaturalvocation.HewantedtotrainmetoanelevationIcouldneverreach;itrackedmehourlytoaspiretothestandardheuplifted.Thethingwasasimpossibleastomouldmy

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irregularfeaturestohiscorrectandclassicpattern,togivetomychangeablegreeneyesthesea-bluetintandsolemnlustreofhisown.

Nothisascendancyalone,however,heldmeinthrallatpresent.Of