第76部分(第2/8 頁)

eemed　unapproachable—to　hear　it　thus　freely　handled—was　beginning　to　be　felt　by　him　as　a　new　pleasure—an　unhoped…for　relief。　Reserved　people　often　really　need　the　frank　discussion　of　their　sentiments　and　griefs　more　than　the　expansive。　The　sternest…　seeming　stoic　is　human　after　all；　and　to　“burst”　with　boldness　and　good…will　into　“the　silent　sea”　of　their　souls　is　often　to　confer　on　them　the　first　of　obligations。

“She　likes　you；　I　am　sure；”　said　I；　as　I　stood　behind　his　chair；　“and　her　father　respects　you。　Moreover；　she　is　a　sweet　girl—rather　thoughtless；　but　you　would　have　sufficient　thought　for　both　yourself　and　her。　You　ought　to　marry　her。”

“Does　she　like　me？”　he　asked。

“Certainly；　better　than　she　likes　any　one　else。　She　talks　of　you　continually：　there　is　no　subject　she　enjoys　so　much　or　touches　upon　so　often。”

“It　is　very　pleasant　to　hear　this；”　he　said—“very：　go　on　for　another　quarter　of　an　hour。”　And　he　actually　took　out　his　watch　and　laid　it　upon　the　table　to　measure　the　time。

“But　where　is　the　use　of　going　on；”　I　asked；　“when　you　are　probably　preparing　some　iron　blow　of　contradiction；　or　forging　a　fresh　chain　to　fetter　your　heart？”

“Don’t　imagine　such　hard　things。　Fancy　me　yielding　and　melting；　as　I　am　doing：　human　love　rising　like　a　freshly　opened　fountain　in　my　mind　and　overflowing　with　sweet　inundation　all　the　field　I　have　so　carefully　and　with　such　labour　prepared—so　assiduously　sown　with　the　seeds　of　good　intentions；　of　s