第73部分(第5/7 页)

cils；　and　paper。”

I　approached　to　take　it：　a　wele　gift　it　was。　He　examined　my　face；　I　thought；　with　austerity；　as　I　came　near：　the　traces　of　tears　were　doubtless　very　visible　upon　it。

“Have　you　found　your　first　day’s　work　harder　than　you　expected？”　he　asked。

“Oh；　no！　On　the　contrary；　I　think　in　time　I　shall　get　on　with　my　scholars　very　well。”

“But　perhaps　your　acmodations—your　cottage—your　furniture—have　disappointed　your　expectations？　They　are；　in　truth；　scanty　enough；　but—”　I　interrupted—

“My　cottage　is　clean　and　weather…proof；　my　furniture　sufficient　and　modious。　All　I　see　has　made　me　thankful；　not　despondent。　I　am　not　absolutely　such　a　fool　and　sensualist　as　to　regret　the　absence　of　a　carpet；　a　sofa；　and　silver　plate；　besides；　five　weeks　ago　I　had　nothing—I　was　an　outcast；　a　beggar；　a　vagrant；　noe；　a　business。　I　wonder　at　the　goodness　of　God；　the　generosity　of　my　friends；　the　bounty　of　my　lot。　I　do　not　repine。”

“But　you　feel　solitude　an　oppression？　The　little　house　there　behind　you　is　dark　and　empty。”

“I　have　hardly　had　time　yet　to　enjoy　a　sense　of　tranquillity；　much　less　to　grow　impatient　under　one　of　loneliness。”

“Very　well；　I　hope　you　feel　the　content　you　express：　at　any　rate；　your　good　sense　will　tell　you　that　it　is　too　soon　yet　to　yield　to　the　vacillating　fears　of　Lot’s　wife。　What　you　had　left　before　I　saw　you；　of　course　I　do　not　know；　but　I　counsel　you　to　resist　firmly　every　temptation　which　would　incline　you　to　look　back：　pursue　your　present　career　steadily；　for　some　months　at　least。”

“It　is　what　I　mean　to　do；”　I　answered。　St。　John　continued—

“It　is　hard　work　to　control　the　workings　of　inclination　and　turn　the　bent　of　nature；　but　that　it　may　be　done；　I　know　from　experience。　God　has　given　us