第83部分(第2/7 页)

ight　argue—one　whom；　if　I　saw　good；　I　might　resist。

He　was　silent　after　I　had　uttered　the　last　sentence；　and　I　presently　risked　an　upward　glance　at　his　countenance。

His　eye；　bent　on　me；　expressed　at　once　stern　surprise　and　keen　inquiry。　“Is　she　sarcastic；　and　sarcastic　to　me！”　it　seemed　to　say。　“What　does　this　signify？”

“Do　not　let　us　forget　that　this　is　a　solemn　matter；”　he　said　ere　long；　“one　of　which　we　may　neither　think　nor　talk　lightly　without　sin。　I　trust；　Jane；　you　are　in　earnest　when　you　say　you　will　serve　your　heart　to　God：　it　is　all　I　want。　Once　wrench　your　heart　from　man；　and　fix　it　on　your　Maker；　the　advancement　of　that　Maker’s　spiritual　kingdom　on　earth　will　be　your　chief　delight　and　endeavour；　you　will　be　ready　to　do　at　once　whatever　furthers　that　end。　You　will　see　what　impetus　would　be　given　to　your　efforts　and　mine　by　our　physical　and　mental　union　in　marriage：　the　only　union　that　gives　a　character　of　permanent　conformity　to　the　destinies　and　designs　of　human　beings；　and；　passing　over　all　minor　caprices—all　trivial　difficulties　and　delicacies　of　feeling—all　scruple　about　the　degree；　kind；　strength　or　tenderness　of　mere　personal　inclination—　you　will　hasten　to　enter　into　that　union　at　once。”

“Shall　I？”　I　said　briefly；　and　I　looked　at　his　features；　beautiful　in　their　harmony；　but　strangely　formidable　in　their　still　severity；　at　his　brow；　manding　but　not　open；　at　his　eyes；　bright　and　deep　and　searching；　but　never　soft；　at　his　tall　imposing　figure；　and　fancied　myself　in　idea　HIS　WIFE。　Oh！　it　would　never　do！　As　his　curate；　his　rade；　all　would　be　right：　I　would　cross　oceans　with　him　in　that　capacity；　toil　under　Eastern　suns；　in　Asian　deserts　with　him　in　that　office；　admire　and　emulate　his　courage　and　devotion　and　vigour；　acmodate　qui