第76部分(第4/8 頁)

uld　discover　this　within　a　year　after　marriage；　and　that　to　twelve　months’　rapture　would　succeed　a　lifetime　of　regret。　This　I　know。”

“Strange　indeed！”　I　could　not　help　ejaculating。

“While　something　in　me；”　he　went　on；　“is　acutely　sensible　to　her　charms；　something　else　is　as　deeply　impressed　with　her　defects：　they　are　such　that　she　could　sympathise　in　nothing　I　aspired　to—co…　operate　in　nothing　I　undertook。　Rosamond　a　sufferer；　a　labourer；　a　female　apostle？　Rosamond　a　missionary’s　wife？　No！”

“But　you　need　not　be　a　missionary。　You　might　relinquish　that　scheme。”

“Relinquish！　What！　my　vocation？　My　great　work？　My　foundation　laid　on　earth　for　a　mansion　in　heaven？　My　hopes　of　being　numbered　in　the　band　who　have　merged　all　ambitions　in　the　glorious　one　of　bettering　their　race—of　carrying　knowledge　into　the　realms　of　ignorance—of　substituting　peace　for　war—freedom　for　bondage—religion　for　superstition—the　hope　of　heaven　for　the　fear　of　hell？　Must　I　relinquish　that？　It　is　dearer　than　the　blood　in　my　veins。　It　is　what　I　have　to　look　forward　to；　and　to　live　for。”

After　a　considerable　pause；　I　said—“And　Miss　Oliver？　Are　her　disappointment　and　sorrow　of　no　interest　to　you？”

“Miss　Oliver　is　ever　surrounded　by　suitors　and　flatterers：　in　less　than　a　month；　my　image　will　be　effaced　from　her　heart。　She　will　forget　me；　and　will　marry；　probably；　some　one　who　will　make　her　far　happier　than　I　should　do。”

“You　speak　coolly　enough；　but　you　suffer　in　th