第84部分(第2/7 页)

ng　of　the　moon；　which　he　had　been　contemplating　as　I　approached。

“No；　St。　John；　we　are　not　friends　as　we　were。　You　know　that。”

“Are　we　not？　That　is　wrong。　For　my　part；　I　wish　you　no　ill　and　all　good。”

“I　believe　you；　St。　John；　for　I　am　sure　you　are　incapable　of　wishing　any　one　ill；　but；　as　I　am　your　kinswoman；　I　should　desire　somewhat　more　of　affection　than　that　sort　of　general　philanthropy　you　extend　to　mere　strangers。”

“Of　course；”　he　said。　“Your　wish　is　reasonable；　and　I　am　far　from　regarding　you　as　a　stranger。”

This；　spoken　in　a　cool；　tranquil　tone；　was　mortifying　and　baffling　enough。　Had　I　attended　to　the　suggestions　of　pride　and　ire；　I　should　immediately　have　left　him；　but　something　worked　within　me　more　strongly　than　those　feelings　could。　I　deeply　venerated　my　cousin’s　talent　and　principle。　His　friendship　was　of　value　to　me：　to　lose　it　tried　me　severely。　I　would　not　so　soon　relinquish　the　attempt　to　reconquer　it。

“Must　we　part　in　this　way；　St。　John？　And　when　you　go　to　India；　will　you　leave　me　so；　without　a　kinder　word　than　you　have　yet　spoken？”

He　nooon　and　faced　me。

“When　I　go　to　India；　Jane；　will　I　leave　you！　What！　do　you　not　go　to　India？”

“You　said　I　could　not　unless　I　married　you。”

“And　you　will　not　marry　me！　You　adhere　to　that　resolution？”

Reader；　do　you　know；　as　I　do；　what　terror　those　cold　people　can　put　into　the　ice　of　their　questions？　How　much　of　the　fall　of　the　avalanche　is　in　their　anger？　of　the　breaking　up　of　the　frozen　sea　in　their　displeasure？

“No。　St。　John；　I　will　not　marry　you。　I　adhere　to　my　resolution。”

The　avalanche　had　shaken　and　slid　a　little　forward；　but　it　did　not　yet　crash　down。

“Once　more；　why　this　refusal？”　he　asked。

“Formerly；”　I　ans