第71部分(第5/7 页)

ing　the　sick　and　poor　among　the　scattered　population　of　his　parish。

No　weather　seemed　to　hinder　him　in　these　pastoral　excursions：　rain　or　fair；　he　would；　when　his　hours　of　morning　study　were　over；　take　his　hat；　and；　followed　by　his　father’s　old　pointer；　Carlo；　go　out　on　his　mission　of　love　or　duty—I　scarcely　know　in　which　light　he　regarded　it。　Sometimes；　when　the　day　was　very　unfavourable；　his　sisters　would　expostulate。　He　would　then　say；　with　a　peculiar　smile；　more　solemn　than　cheerful—

“And　if　I　let　a　gust　of　wind　or　a　sprinkling　of　rain　turn　me　aside　from　these　easy　tasks；　what　preparation　would　such　sloth　be　for　the　future　I　propose　to　myself？”

Diana　and　Mary’s　general　answer　to　this　question　was　a　sigh；　and　some　minutes　of　apparently　mournful　meditation。

But　besides　his　frequent　absences；　there　was　another　barrier　to　friendship　with　him：　he　seemed　of　a　reserved；　an　abstracted；　and　even　of　a　brooding　nature。　Zealous　in　his　ministerial　labours；　blameless　in　his　life　and　habits；　he　yet　did　not　appear　to　enjoy　that　mental　serenity；　that　inward　content；　which　should　bet　he　reward　of　every　sincere　Christian　and　practical　philanthropist。　Often；　of　an　evening；　when　he　sat　at　the　window；　his　desk　and　papers　before　him；　he　would　cease　reading　or　writing；　rest　his　chin　on　his　hand；　and　deliver　himself　up　to　I　know　not　what　course　of　thought；　but　that　it　was　perturbed　and　exciting　might　be　seen　in　the　frequent　flash　and　changeful　dilation　of　his　eye。

I　think；　moreover；　that　Nature　was　not　to　him　that　treasury　of　delight　it　was　to　his　sisters。　He　expressed　once；　and　but　once　in　my　hearing；　a　strong　sense　of　the　rugged　charm　of　the　hills；　and　an　inborn　affection　for　the　dark　roof　and　hoary　walls　he　called　his　home；　but　there　was　more　of　gloom　t