第14部分(第3/7 页)

admired　man：　he　is　little　liked　here；　he　never　took　steps　to　make　himself　liked。　Had　he　treated　you　as　an　especial　favourite；　you　would　have　found　enemies；　declared　or　covert；　all　around　you；　as　it　is；　the　greater　number　would　offer　you　sympathy　if　they　dared。　Teachers　and　pupils　may　look　coldly　on　you　for　a　day　or　two；　but　friendly　feelings　are　concealed　in　their　hearts；　and　if　you　persevere　in　doing　well；　these　feelings　will　ere　long　appear　so　much　the　more　evidently　for　their　temporary　suppression。　Besides；　Jane”—she　paused。

“Well；　Helen？”　said　I；　putting　my　hand　into　hers：　she　chafed　my　fingers　gently　to　warm　them；　and　went　on—

“If　all　the　world　hated　you；　and　believed　you　wicked；　while　your　own　conscience　approved　you；　and　absolved　you　from　guilt；　you　would　not　be　without　friends。”

“No；　I　know　I　should　think　well　of　myself；　but　that　is　not　enough：　if　others　don’t　love　me　I　would　rather　die　than　live—I　cannot　bear　to　be　solitary　and　hated；　Helen。　Look　here；　to　gain　some　real　affection　from　you；　or　Miss　Temple；　or　any　other　whom　I　truly　love；　I　would　willingly　submit　to　have　the　bone　of　my　arm　broken；　or　to　let　a　bull　toss　me；　or　to　stand　behind　a　kicking　horse；　and　let　it　dash　its　hoof　at　my　chest—”

“Hush；　Jane！　you　think　too　much　of　the　love　of　human　beings；　you　are　too　impulsive；　too　vehement；　the　sovereign　hand　that　created　your　frame；　and　put　life　into　it；　has　provided　you　with　other　resources　than　your　feeble　self；　or　than　creatures　feeble　as　you。　Besides　this　earth；　and　besides　the　race　of　men；　there　is　an　invisible　world　and　a　kingdom　of　spirits：　that　world　is　round　us；　for　it　is　everywhere；　and　those　spirits　watch　us；　for　they　are　missioned　to　guard　us；　and　if　we　were　dying　in　pain　and　shame；　if　scorn　smote　us　on　all　sides；　and　ha