第53部分(第4/8 頁)

aken　a　vow　to　accord　every　request—”

“But　there　can　be　no　danger　in　plying　with　this；　sir。”

“Utter　it；　Jane：　but　I　wish　that　instead　of　a　mere　inquiry　into；　perhaps；　a　secret；　it　was　a　wish　for　half　my　estate。”

“Now；　King　Ahasuerus！　What　do　I　want　with　half　your　estate？　Do　you　think　I　am　a　Jew…usurer；　seeking　good　investment　in　land？　I　would　much　rather　have　all　your　confidence。　You　will　not　exclude　me　from　your　confidence　if　you　admit　me　to　your　heart？”

“You　are　wele　to　all　my　confidence　that　is　worth　having；　Jane；　but　for　God’s　sake；　don’t　desire　a　useless　burden！　Don’t　long　for　poison—don’t　turn　out　a　downright　Eve　on　my　hands！”

“Why　not；　sir？　You　have　just　been　telling　me　how　much　you　liked　to　be　conquered；　and　how　pleasant　over…persuasion　is　to　you。　Don’t　you　think　I　had　better　take　advantage　of　the　confession；　and　begin　and　coax　and　entreat—even　cry　and　be　sulky　if　necessary—for　the　sake　of　a　mere　essay　of　my　power？”

“I　dare　you　to　any　such　experiment。　Encroach；　presume；　and　the　game　is　up。”

“Is　it；　sir？　You　soon　give　in。　How　stern　you　look　now！　Your　eyebrows　have　bee　as　thick　as　my　finger；　and　your　forehead　resembles　what；　in　some　very　astonishing　poetry；　I　once　saw　styled；　‘a　blue…piled　thunderloft。’　That　will　be　your　married　look；　sir；　I　suppose？”

“If　that　will　be　your　married　look；　I；　as　a　Christian；　will　soon　give　up　the　notion　of　consorting　with　a　mere　sprite　or　salamander。　But　what　had　you　to　ask；　thing；—out