第79部分(第6/7 页)

st　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