第82部分(第3/7 页)

oundless　stores　of　His　providence；　supply　the　inadequacy　of　the　means　to　the　end。　Think　like　me；　Jane—trust　like　me。　It　is　the　Rock　of　Ages　I　ask　you　to　lean　on：　do　not　doubt　but　it　will　bear　the　weight　of　your　human　weakness。”

“I　do　not　understand　a　missionary　life：　I　have　never　studied　missionary　labours。”

“There　I；　humble　as　I　am；　can　give　you　the　aid　you　want：　I　can　set　you　your　task　from　hour　to　hour；　stand　by　you　always；　help　you　from　moment　to　moment。　This　I　could　do　in　the　beginning：　soon　（for　I　know　your　powers）　you　would　be　as　strong　and　apt　as　myself；　and　y　help。”

“But　my　powers—where　are　they　for　this　undertaking？　I　do　not　feel　them。　Nothing　speaks　or　stirs　in　me　while　you　talk。　I　am　sensible　of　no　light　kindling—no　life　quickening—no　voice　counselling　or　cheering。　Oh；　I　wish　I　could　make　you　see　how　much　my　mind　is　at　this　moment　like　a　rayless　dungeon；　with　one　shrinking　fear　fettered　in　its　depths—the　fear　of　being　persuaded　by　you　to　attempt　what　I　cannot　acplish！”

“I　have　an　answer　for　you—hear　it。　I　have　watched　you　ever　since　we　first　met：　I　have　made　you　my　study　for　ten　months。　I　have　proved　you　in　that　time　by　sundry　tests：　and　what　have　I　seen　and　elicited？　In　the　village　school　I　found　you　could　perform　well；　punctually；　uprightly；　labour　uncongenial　to　your　habits　and　inclinations；　I　saw　you　could　perform　it　with　capacity　and　tact：　you　could　win　while　you　controlled。　In　the　calm　with　which　you　learnt　you　had　bee　suddenly　rich；　I　read　a　mind　clear　of　the　vice　of　Demas：…　lucre　had　no　undue　power　over　you。　In　the　resolute　readiness　with　which　you　cut　your　wealth　into　four　shares；　keeping　but　one　to　yourself；　and　relinquishing　the　three　others　to　the　claim　of　abstract　justice；　I　recognised　a　soul　that　revelled　in　the　flam