第72部分(第3/7 页)

ted；　but　I　consider　that　no　service　degrades　which　can　better　our　race。　I　hold　that　the　more　arid　and　unreclaimed　the　soil　where　the　Christian　labourer’s　task　of　tillage　is　appointed　him—the　scantier　the　meed　his　toil　brings—the　higher　the　honour。　His；　under　such　circumstances；　is　the　destiny　of　the　pioneer；　and　the　first　pioneers　of　the　Gospel　were　the　Apostles—their　captain　was　Jesus；　the　Redeemer；　Himself。”

“Well？”　I　said；　as　he　again　paused—“proceed。”

He　looked　at　me　before　he　proceeded：　indeed；　he　seemed　leisurely　to　read　my　face；　as　if　its　features　and　lines　were　characters　on　a　page。　The　conclusions　drawn　from　this　scrutiny　he　partially　expressed　in　his　succeeding　observations。

“I　believe　you　will　accept　the　post　I　offer　you；”　said　he；　“and　hold　it　for　a　while：　not　permanently；　though：　any　more　than　I　could　permanently　keep　the　narrow　and　narrowing—the　tranquil；　hidden　office　of　English　country　incumbent；　for　in　your　nature　is　an　alloy　as　detrimental　to　repose　as　that　in　mine；　though　of　a　different　kind。”

“Do　explain；”　I　urged；　when　he　halted　once　more。

“I　will；　and　you　shall　hear　how　poor　the　proposal　is；—how　trivial—　how　cramping。　I　shall　not　stay　long　at　Morton；　now　that　my　father　is　dead；　and　that　I　am　my　own　master。　I　shall　leave　the　place　probably　in　the　course　of　a　twelve…month；　but　while　I　do　stay；　I　will　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　for　its　improvement。　Morton；　when　I　came　to　it　two　years　ago；　had　no　school：　the　children　of　the　poor　were　excluded　from　every　hope　of　progress。　I　established　one　for　boys：　I　mean　now　to　open　a　second　school　for　girls。　I　have　hired　a　building　for　the　purpose；　with　a　cottage　of　two　rooms　attached　to　it　for　the　mistress’s　house。　Her　salary　will　be　thirty　pounds　a　year：　her　house　is　already　furni