第12部分(第2/7 页)

　to　be　spent　in　nursing　animosity　or　registering　wrongs。　We　are；　and　must　be；　one　and　all；　burdened　with　faults　in　this　world：　but　the　time　will　soon　e　when；　I　trust；　we　shall　put　them　off　in　putting　off　our　corruptible　bodies；　when　debasement　and　sin　will　fall　from　us　with　this　cumbrous　frame　of　flesh；　and　only　the　spark　of　the　spirit　will　remain；—the　impalpable　principle　of　light　and　thought；　pure　as　when　it　left　the　Creator　to　inspire　the　creature：　whence　it　came　it　will　return；　perhaps　again　to　be　municated　to　some　being　higher　than　man—perhaps　to　pass　through　gradations　of　glory；　from　the　pale　human　soul　to　brighten　to　the　seraph！　Surely　it　will　never；　on　the　contrary；　be　suffered　to　degenerate　from　man　to　fiend？　No；　I　cannot　believe　that：　I　hold　another　creed：　which　no　one　ever　taught　me；　and　which　I　seldom　mention；　but　in　which　I　delight；　and　to　which　I　cling：　for　it　extends　hope　to　all：　it　makes　Eternity　a　rest—a　mighty　home；　not　a　terror　and　an　abyss。　Besides；　with　this　creed；　I　can　so　clearly　distinguish　between　the　criminal　and　his　crime；　I　can　so　sincerely　forgive　the　first　while　I　abhor　the　last：　with　this　creed　revenge　never　worries　my　heart；　degradation　never　too　deeply　disgusts　me；　injustice　never　crushes　me　too　low：　I　live　in　calm；　looking　to　the　end。”

Helen’s　head；　always　drooping；　sank　a　little　lower　as　she　finished　this　sentence。　I　saw　by　her　look　she　wished　no　longer　to　talk　to　me；　but　rather　to　converse　with　her　own　thoughts。　She　was　not　allowed　much　time　for　meditation：　a　monitor；　a　great　rough　girl；　presently　came　up；　exclaiming　in　a　strong　Cumberland　accent—

“Helen　Burns；　if　you　don’t　go　and　put　your　drawer　in　order；　and　fold　up　your　work　this　minute；　I’ll　tell　Miss　Scatcherd　to　e　and　look　at　it！”

Helen　sighed　as　her　reverie