快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

“To　be　active：　as　active　as　I　can。　And　first　I　must　beg　you　to　set　Hannah　at　liberty；　and　get　somebody　else　to　wait　on　you。”
“Do　you　want　her？”
“Yes；　to　go　with　me　to　Moor　House。　Diana　and　Mary　will　be　at　home　in　a　week；　and　I　want　to　have　everything　in　order　against　their　arrival。”
“I　understand。　I　thought　you　were　for　flying　off　on　some　excursion。　It　is　better　so：　Hannah　shall　go　with　you。”
“Tell　her　to　be　ready　by　to…morrow　then；　and　here　is　the　schoolroom　key：　I　will　give　you　the　key　of　my　cottage　in　the　morning。”
He　took　it。　“You　give　it　up　very　gleefully；”　said　he；　“I　don’t　quite　understand　your　light…heartedness；　because　I　cannot　tell　what　employment　you　propose　to　yourself　as　a　substitute　for　the　one　you　are　relinquishing。　What　aim；　what　purpose；　what　ambition　in　life　have　you　now？”
“My　first　aim　will　be　to　clean　down　（do　you　prehend　the　full　force　of　the　expression？）—to　clean　down　Moor　House　from　chamber　to　cellar；　my　next　to　rub　it　up　with　bees…wax；　oil；　and　an　indefinite　number　of　cloths；　till　it　glitters　again；　my　third；　to　arrange　every　chair；　table；　bed；　carpet；　with　mathematical　precision；　afterwards　I　shall　go　near　to　ruin　you　in　coals　and　peat　to　keep　up　good　fires　in　every　room；　and　lastly；　the　two　days　preceding　that　on　which　your　sisters　are　expected　will　be　devoted　by　Hannah　and　me　to　such　a　beating　of　eggs；　sorting　of　currants；　grating　of　spices；　pounding　of　Christmas　cakes；　chopping　up　of　materials　for　mince…pies；　and　solemnising　of　other　culinary　rites；　as　words　can　convey　but　an　inadequate　notion　of　to　the　uninitiated　like　you。　My　purpose；　in　short；　is　to　have　all　things　in　an　absolutely　perfect　state　of　readiness　for　Diana　and　Mary　before　next　Thursday；　and　my　ambition　is　to　give　them　a　beau…ideal　of　a　wele　when　they　e。”
St。　John　smiled　slightly：　still　he　was　dissatisfied。
“It　is　all　very　well　for　the　present；”　said　he；　“but　seriously；　I　trust　that　when　the　first　flush　of　vivacity　is　over；　you　will　look　a　little　higher　than　domestic　endearments　and　household　joys。”
“The　best　things　the　world　has！”　I　interrupted。
“No；　Jane；　no：　this　world　is　not　the　scene　of　fruition；　do　not　attempt　to　make　it　so：　nor　of　rest；　do　not　turn　slothful。”
“I　mean；　on　the　contrary；　to　be　busy。”
“Jane；　I　excuse　you　for　the　present：　two　months’　grace　I　allow　you　for　the　full　enjoyment　of　your　new　position；　and　for　pleasing　yourself　with　this　late…found　charm　of　relationship；　but　then；　I　hope　you　will　begin　to　look　beyond　Moor　House　and　Morton；　and　sisterly　society；　and　the　selfish　calm　and　sensual　fort　of　civilised　affluence。　I　hope　your　energies　will　then　once　more　trouble　you　with　their　strength。”
I　looked　at　him　with　surprise。　“St。　John；”　I　said；　“I　think　you　are　almost　wicked　to　talk　so。　I　am　disposed　to　be　as　content　as　a　queen；　and　you　try　to　stir　me　up　to　restlessness！　To　what　end？”
“To　the　end　of　turning　to　profit　the　talents　which　God　has　mitted　to　your　keeping；　and　of　which　He　will　surely　one　day　demand　a　strict　account。　Jane；　I　shall　watch　you　closely　and　anxiously—I　warn　you　of　that。　And　try　to　restrain　the　disproportionate　fervour　with　which　you　throw　yourself　into　monplace　home　pleasures。　Don’t　cling　so　tenaciously　to　ties　of　the　flesh；　save　your　constancy　and　ardour　for　an　adequate　cause；　forbear　to　waste　them　on　trite　transient　objects。　Do　you　hear；　Jane？”
“Yes；　just　as　if　you　were　speaking　Greek。　I　feel　I　have　adequate　cause　to　be　happy；　and　I　will　be　happy。　Goodbye！”
Happy　at　Moor　House　I　was；　and　hard　I　worked；　and　so　did　Hannah：　she　was　charmed　to　see　how　jovial　I　could　be　amidst　the　bustle　of　a　house　turned　topsy…turvy—how　I　could　brush；　and　dust；　and　clean；　and　cook。　And　really；　after　a　day　or　two　of　confusion　worse　confounded；　it　was　delightful　by　degrees　to　invoke　order　from　the　chaos　ourselves　had　made。　I　had　previously　taken　a　journey　to　S…　to　purchase　some　new　furniture：　my　cousins　having　given　me　carte　blanche　to　effect　what　alterations　I　pleased；　and　a　sum　having　been　set　aside　for　that　purpose。　The　ordinary　sitting…room　and　bedrooms　I　left　much　as　they　were：　for　I　knew　Diana　and　Mary　would　derive　more　pleasure　from　seeing　again　the　old　homely　tables；　and　chairs；　and　beds；　than　from　the　spectacle　of　the　smartest　innovations。　Still　some　novelty　was　necessary；　to　give　to　their　return　the　piquancy　with　which　I　wished　it　to　be　invested。　Dark　handsome　new　carpets　and　curtains；　an　arrangement　of　some　carefully　selected　antique　ornaments　in　porcelain　and　bronze；　new　coverings；　and　mirrors；　and　dressing…cases；　for　the　toilet　tables；　answered　the　end：　they　looked　fresh　without　being　glaring。　A　spare　parlour　and　bedroom　I　refurnished　entirely；　with　old　mahogany　and　crimson　upholstery：　I　laid　canvas　on　the　passage；　and　carpets　on　the　stairs。　When　all　was　finished；　I　thought　Moor　House　as　plete　a　model　of　bright　modest　snugness　within；　as　it　was；　at　this　season；　a　specimen　of　wintry　waste　and　desert　dreariness　without。
The　eventful　Thursday　at　length　came。　They　were　expected　about　dark；　and　ere　dusk　fires　were　lit　upstairs　and　below；　the　kitchen　was　in　perfect　trim；　Hannah　and　I　were　dressed；　and　all　was　in　readiness。
St。　John　arrived　first。　I　had　entreated　him　to　keep　quite　clear　of　the　house　till　everything　was　arranged：　and；　indeed；　the　bare　idea　of　the　motion；　at　once　sordid　and　trivial；　going　on　within　its　walls　sufficed　to　scare　him　to　estrangement。　He　found　me　in　the　kitchen；　watching　the　progress　of　certain　cakes　for　tea；　then　baking。　Approaching　the　hearth；　he　asked；　“If　I　was　at　last　satisfied　with　housemaid’s　work？”　I　answered　by　inviting　him　to　acpany　me　on　a　general　inspection　of　the　result　of　my　labours。　With　some　difficulty；　I　got　him　to　make　the　tour　of　the　house。　He　just　looked　in　at　the　doors　I　opened；　and　when　he　had　wandered　upstairs　and　downstairs；　he　said　I　must　have　gone　through　a　great　deal　of　fatigue　and　trouble　to　have　effected　such　considerable　changes　in　so　short　a　time：　but　not　a　syllable　did　he　utter　indicating　pleasure　in　the　improved　aspect　of　his　abode。
This　silence　damped　me。　I　thought　perhaps　the　alterations　had　disturbed　some　old　associations　he　valued。　I　inquired　whether　this　was　the　case：　no　doubt　in　a　somewhat　crest…fallen　tone。
“Not　at　all；　he　had；　on　the　contrary；　remarked　that　I　had　scrupulously　respected　every　association：　he　feared；　indeed；　I　must　have　bestowed　more　thought　on　the　matter　than　it　was　worth。　How　many　minutes；　for　instance；　had　I　devoted　to　studying　the　arrangement　of　this　very　room？—By…the…bye；　could　I　tell　him　where　such　a　book　was？”
I　showed　him　the　volume　on　the　shelf：　he　took　it　down；　and　withdrawing　to　his　accustomed　window　recess；　he　began　to　read　it。
Now；　I　did　not　like　this；　reader。　St。　John　was　a　good　man；　but　I　began　to　feel　he　had　spoken　truth　of　himself　when　he　said　he　was　hard　and　cold。　The　humanities　and　amenities　of　life　had　no　attraction　for　him—its　peaceful　enjoyments　no　charm。　Literally；　he　lived　only　to　aspire—after　what　was　good　and　great；　certainly；　but　still　he　would　never　rest；　nor　approve　of　others　resting　round　him。　As　I　looked　at　his　lofty　forehead；　still　and　pale　as　a　white　stone—　at　his　fine　lineaments　fixed　in　study—I　prehended　all　at　once　that　he　would　hardly　make　a　good　husband：　that　it　would　be　a　trying　thing　to　be　his　wife。　I　understood；　as　by　inspiration；　the　nature　of　his　love　for　Miss　Oliver；　I　agreed　with　him　that　it　was　but　a　love　of　the　senses。　I　prehended　how　he　should　despise　himself　for　the　feverish　influence　it　exercised　over　him；　how　he　should　wish　to　stifle　and　destroy　it；　how　he　should　mistrust　its　ever　conducting　permanently　to　his　happiness　or　hers。　I　saw　he　was　of　the　material　from　which　nature　hews　her　heroes—Christian　and　Pagan—her　lawgivers；　her　statesmen；　her　conquerors：　a　steadfast　bulwark　for　great　interests　to　rest　upon；　but；　at　the　fireside；　too　often　a　cold　cumbrous　column；　gloomy　and　out　of　place。
“This　parlour　is　not　his　sphere；”　I　reflected：　“the　Himalayan　ridge　or　Caffre　bush；　even　the　plague…cursed　Guinea　Coast　swamp　would　suit　him　better。　Well　may　he　eschew　the　calm　of　domestic　life；　it　is　not　his　element：　there　his　faculties　stagnate—they　cannot　develop　or　appear　to　advantage。　It　is　in　scenes　of　strife　and　danger—where　courage　is　proved；　and　energy　exercised；　and　fortitude　tasked—that　he　will　speak　and　move；　the　leader　and　superior。　A　merry　child　would　have　the　advantage　of　him　on　this　hearth。　He　is　right　to　choose　a　missionary’s　career—I　see　it　now。”
“They　are　ing！　they　are　ing！”　cried　Hannah；　throwing　open　the　parlour　door。　At　the　same　moment　old　Carlo　barked　joyfully。　Out　I　ran。　It　was　now　dark；　but　a　rumbling　of　wheels　was　audible。　Hannah　soon　had　a　lantern　lit。　The　vehicle　had　stopped　at　the　wicket；　the　driver　opened　the　door：　first　one　well…known　form；　then　another；　stepped　out。　In　a　minute　I　had　my　face　under　their　bons；　in　contact　first　with　Mary’s　soft　cheek；　then　with　Diana’s　flowing　curls。　They　laughed—kissed　me—then　Hannah：　patted　Carlo；　who　was　half　wild　with　delight；　asked　eagerly　if　all　was　well；　and　being　assured　in　the　affirmative；　hastened　into　the　house。
They　were　stiff　with　their　long　and　jolting　drive　from　Whitcross；　and　chilled　with　the　frosty　night　air；　but　their　pleasant　countenances　expanded　to　the　cheerful　firelight。　While　the　driver　and　Hannah　brought　in　the　boxes；　they　demanded　St。　John。　At　this　moment　he　advanced　from　the　parlour。　They　both　threw　their　arms　round　his　neck　at　once。　He　gave　each　one　quiet　kiss；　said　in　a　low　tone　a　few　words　of　wele；　stood　a　while　to　be　talked　to；　and　then；　intimating　that　he　supposed　they　would　soon　rejoin　him　in　the　parlour；　withdrew　there　as　to　a　place　of　refuge。
I　had　lit　their　candles　to　go　upstairs；　but　Diana　had　first　to　give　hospitable　orders　respecting　the　driver；　this　done；　both　followed　me。　They　were　delighted　with　the　renovation　and　decorations　of　their　rooms；　with　the　new　drapery；　and　fresh　carpets；　and　rich　tinted　china　vases：　they　expressed　their　gratification　ungrudgingly。　I　had　the　pleasure　of　feeling　that　my　arrangements　met　their　wishes　exactly；　and　that　what　I　had　done　added　a　vivid　charm　to　their　joyous　return　home。
Sweet　was　that　evening。　My　cousins；　full　of　exhilaration；　were　so　eloquent　in　narrative　and　ment；　that　their　fluency　covered　St。　John’s　taciturnity：　he　was　sincerely　glad　to　see　his　sisters；　but　in　their　glow　of　fervour　and　flow　of　joy　he　could　not　sympathise。　The　event　of　the　day—that　is；　the　return　of　Diana　and　Mary—pleased　him；　but　the　acpaniments　of　that　event；　the　glad　tumult；　the　garrulous　glee　of　reception　irked　him：　I　saw　he　wished　the　calmer　morrow　was　e。　In　the　very　meridian　of　the　night’s　enjoyment；　about　an　hour　after　tea；　a　rap　was　heard　at　the　door。　Hannah　entered　with　the　intimation　that　“a　poor　lad　was　e；　at　that　unlikely　time；　to　fetch　Mr。　Rivers　to　see　his　mother；　who　was　drawing　away。”
“Where　does　she　live；　Hannah？”
“Clear　up　at　Whitcross　Brow；　almost　four　miles　off；　and　moor　and　moss　all　the　way。”
“Tell　him　I　will　go。”
“I’m　sure；　sir；　you　had　better　not。　It’s　the　worst　road　to　travel　after　dark　that　can　be：　there’s　no　track　at　all　over　the　bog。　And　then　it　is　such　a　bitter　night—the　keenest　wind　you　ever　felt。　You　had　better　send　word；　sir；　that　you　will　be　there　in　the　morning。”
But　he　was　already　in　the　passage；　putting　on　his　cloak；　and　without　one　objection；　one　murmur；　he　departed。　It　was　then　nine　o’clock：　he　did　not　return　till　midnight。　Starved　and　tired　enough　he　was：　but　he　looked　happier　than　when　he　set　out。　He　had　performed　an　act　of　duty；　made　an　exertion；　felt　his　own　strength　to　do　and　deny；　and　was　on　better　terms　with　himself。
I　am　afraid　the　whole　of　the　ensuing　week　tried　his　patience。　It　was　Christmas　week：　we　took　to　no　settled　employment；　but　spent　it　in　a　sort　of　merry　domestic　dissipation。　The　air　of　the　moors；　the　freedom　of　home；　the　dawn　of　prosperity；　acted　on　Diana　and　Mary’s　spirits　like　some　life…giving　elixir：　they　were　gay　from　morning　till　noon；　and　from　noon　till　night。　They　could　always　talk；　and　their　discourse；　witty；　pithy；　original；　had　such　charms　for　me；　that　I　preferred　listening　to；　and　sharing　in　it；　to　doing　anything　else。　St。　John　did　not　rebuke　our　vivacity；　but　he　escaped　from　it：　he　was　seldom　in　the　house；　his　parish　was　large；　th