迪文小说

第79部分（第2页）

“Yes；”　I　said；　“but　I　could　not　go　on　for　ever　so：　I　want　to　enjoy　my　own　faculties　as　well　as　to　cultivate　those　of　other　people。　I　must　enjoy　them　now；　don’t　recall　either　my　mind　or　body　to　the　school；　I　am　out　of　it　and　disposed　for　full　holiday。”

He　looked　grave。　“What　now？　What　sudden　eagerness　is　this　you　evince？　What　are　you　going　to　do？”

“To　be　active：　as　active　as　I　can。　And　first　I　must　beg　you　to　set　Hannah　at　liberty；　and　get　somebody　else　to　wait　on　you。”

“Do　you　want　her？”

“Yes；　to　go　with　me　to　Moor　House。　Diana　and　Mary　will　be　at　home　in　a　week；　and　I　want　to　have　everything　in　order　against　their　arrival。”

“I　understand。　I　thought　you　were　for　flying　off　on　some　excursion。　It　is　better　so：　Hannah　shall　go　with　you。”

“Tell　her　to　be　ready　by　to…morrow　then；　and　here　is　the　schoolroom　key：　I　will　give　you　the　key　of　my　cottage　in　the　morning。”

He　took　it。　“You　give　it　up　very　gleefully；”　said　he；　“I　don’t　quite　understand　your　light…heartedness；　because　I　cannot　tell　what　employment　you　propose　to　yourself　as　a　substitute　for　the　one　you　are　relinquishing。　What　aim；　what　purpose；　what　ambition　in　life　have　you　now？”

“My　first　aim　will　be　to　clean　down　（do　you　prehend　the　full　force　of　the　expression？）—to　clean　down　Moor　House　from　chamber　to　cellar；　my　next　to　rub　it　up　with　bees…wax；　oil；　and　an　indefinite　number　of　cloths；　till　it　glitters　again；　my　third；　to　arrange　every　chair；　table；　bed；　carpet；　with　mathematical　precision；　afterwards　I　shall　go　near　to　ruin　you　in　coals　and　peat　to　keep　up　good　fires　in　every　room；　and　lastly；　the　two　days　preceding　that　on　which　your　sisters　are　expected　will　be　devoted　by　Hannah　and　me　to　such　a　beating　of　eggs；　sorting　of　currants；　grating　of　spices；　pounding　of　Christmas　cakes；　chopping　up　of　materials　for　mince…pies；　and　solemnising　of　other　culinary　rites；　as　words　can　convey　but　an　inadequate　notion　of　to　the　uninitiated　like　you。　My　purpose；　in　short；　is　to　have　all　things　in　an　absolutely　perfect　state　of　readiness　for　Diana　and　Mary　before　next　Thursday；　and　my　ambition　is　to　give　them　a　beau…ideal　of　a　wele　when　they　e。”

St。　John　smiled　slightly：　still　he　was　dissatisfied。

“It　is　all　very　well　for　the　present；”　said　he；　“but　seriously；　I　trust　that　when　the　first　flush　of　vivacity　is　over；　you　will　look　a　little　higher　than　domestic　endearments　and　household　joys。”

“The　best　things　the　world　has！”　I　interrupted。

“No；　Jane；　no：　this　world　is　not　the　scene　of　fruition；　do　not　attempt　to　make　it　so：　nor　of　rest；　do　not　turn　slothful。”

“I　mean；　on　the　contrary；　to　be　busy。”

“Jane；　I　excuse　you　for　the　present：　two　months’　grace　I　allow　you　for　the　full　enjoyment　of　your　new　position；　and　for　pleasing　yourself　with　this　late…found　charm　of　relationship；　but　then；　I　hope　you　will　begin　to　look　beyond　Moor　House　and　Morton；　and　sisterly　society；　and　the　selfish　calm　and　sensual　fort　of　civilised　affluence。　I　hope　your　energies　will　then　once　more　trouble　you　with　their　strength。”

I　looked　at　him　with　surprise。　“St。　John；”　I　said；　“I　think　you　are　almost　wicked　to　talk　so。　I　am　disposed　to　be　as　content　as　a　queen；　and　you　try　to　stir　me　up　to　restlessness！　To　what　end？”

“To　the　end　of　turning　to　profit　the　talents　which　God　has　mitted　to　your　keeping；　and　of　which　He　will　surely　one　day　demand　a　strict　account。　Jane；　I　shall　watch　you　closely　and　anxiously—I　warn　you　of　that。　And　try　to　restrain　the　disproportionate　fervour　with　which　you　throw　yourself　into　monplace　home　pleasures。　Don’t　cling　so　tenaciously　to　ties　of　the　flesh；　save　your　constancy　and　ardour　for　an　adequate　cause；　forbear　to　waste　them　on　trite　transient　objects。　Do　you　hear；　Jane？”

“Yes；　just　as　if　you　were　speaking　Greek。　I　feel　I　have　adequate　cause　to　be　happy；　and　I　will　be　happy。　Goodbye！”

Happy　at　Moor　House　I　was；　and　hard　I　worked；　and　so　did　Hannah：　she　was　charmed　to　see　how　jovial　I　could　be　amidst　the　bustle　of　a　house　turned　topsy…turvy—how　I　could　brush；　and　dust；　and　clean；　and　cook。　And　really；　after　a　day　or　two　of　confusion　worse　confounded；　it　was　delightful　by　degrees　to　invoke　order　from　the　chaos　ourselves　had　made。　I　had　previously　taken　a　journey　to　S…　to　purchase　some　new　furniture：　my　cousins　having　given　me　carte　blanche　to　effect　what　alterations　I　pleased；　and　a　sum　having　been　set　aside　for　that　purpose。　The　ordinary　sitting…room　and　bedrooms　I　left　much　as　they　were：　for　I　knew　Diana　and　Mary　would　derive　more　pleasure　from　seeing　again　the　old　homely　tables；　and　chairs；　and　beds；　than　from　the　spectacle　of　the　smartest　innovations。　Still　some　novelty　was　necessary；　to　give　to　their　return　the　piquancy　with　which　I　wished　it　to　be　invested。　Dark　handsome　new　carpets　and　curtains；　an　arrangement　of　some　carefully　selected　antique　ornaments　in　porcelain　and　bronze；　new　coverings；　and　mirrors；　and　dressing…cases；　for　the　toilet　tables；　answered　the　end：　they　looked　fresh　without　being　glaring。　A　spare　parlour　and　bedroom　I　refurnished　entirely；　with　old　mahogany　and　crimson　upholstery：　I　laid　canvas　on　the　passage；　and　carpets　on　the　stairs。　When　all　was　finished；　I　thought　Moor　House　as　plete　a　model　of　bright　modest　snugness　within；　as　it　was；　at　this　season；　a　specimen　of　wintry　waste　and　desert　dreariness　without。

The　eventful　Thursday　at　length　came。　They　were　expected　about　dark；　and　ere　dusk　fires　were　lit　upstairs　and　below；　the　kitchen　was　in　perfect　trim；　Hannah　and　I　were　dressed；　and　all　was　in　readiness。

St。　John　arrived　first。　I　had　entreated　him　to　keep　quite　clear　of　t