第12部分(第1/7 页)

“But　I　feel　this；　Helen；　I　must　dislike　those　who；　whatever　I　do　to　please　them；　persist　in　disliking　me；　I　must　resist　those　who　punish　me　unjustly。　It　is　as　natural　as　that　I　should　love　those　who　show　me　affection；　or　submit　to　punishment　when　I　feel　it　is　deserved。”

“Heathens　and　savage　tribes　hold　that　doctrine；　but　Christians　and　civilised　nations　disown　it。”

“How？　I　don’t　understand。”

“It　is　not　violence　that　best　overes　hate—nor　vengeance　that　most　certainly　heals　injury。”

“What　then？”

“Read　the　New　Testament；　and　observe　what　Christ　says；　and　how　He　acts；　make　His　word　your　rule；　and　His　conduct　your　example。”

“What　does　He　say？”

“Love　your　enemies；　bless　them　that　curse　you；　do　good　to　them　that　hate　you　and　despitefully　use　you。”

“Then　I　should　love　Mrs。　Reed；　which　I　cannot　do；　I　should　bless　her　son　John；　which　is　impossible。”

In　her　turn；　Helen　Burns　asked　me　to　explain；　and　I　proceeded　forthwith　to　pour　out；　in　my　own　way；　the　tale　of　my　sufferings　and　resentments。　Bitter　and　truculent　when　excited；　I　spoke　as　I　felt；　without　reserve　or　softening。

Helen　heard　me　patiently　to　the　end：　I　expected　she　would　then　make　a　remark；　but　she　said　nothing。

“Well；”　I　asked　impatiently；　“is　not　Mrs。　Reed　a　hard…hearted；　bad　woman？”

“She　has　been　unkind　to　you；　no　doubt；　because　you　see；　she　dislikes　your　cast　of　character；　as　Miss　Scatcherd　does　mine；　but　how　minutely　you　remember　all　she　has　done　and　said　to　you！　What　a　singularly　deep　impression　her　injustice　seems　to　have　made　on　your　heart！　No　ill…usage　so　brands　its　record　on　my　feelings。　Would　you　not　be　happier　if　you　tried　to　forget　her　severity；　together　with　the　passionate　emotions　it　excited？　Life　appears　to　me　too　short