第72部分(第4/8 頁)

l；　hidden　office　of　English　country　incumbent；　for　in　your　nature　is　an　alloy　as　detrimental　to　repose　as　that　in　mine；　though　of　a　different　kind。”

“Do　explain；”　I　urged；　when　he　halted　once　more。

“I　will；　and　you　shall　hear　how　poor　the　proposal　is；—how　trivial—　how　cramping。　I　shall　not　stay　long　at　Morton；　now　that　my　father　is　dead；　and　that　I　am　my　own　master。　I　shall　leave　the　place　probably　in　the　course　of　a　twelve…month；　but　while　I　do　stay；　I　will　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　for　its　improvement。　Morton；　when　I　came　to　it　two　years　ago；　had　no　school：　the　children　of　the　poor　were　excluded　from　every　hope　of　progress。　I　established　one　for　boys：　I　mean　now　to　open　a　second　school　for　girls。　I　have　hired　a　building　for　the　purpose；　with　a　cottage　of　two　rooms　attached　to　it　for　the　mistress’s　house。　Her　salary　will　be　thirty　pounds　a　year：　her　house　is　already　furnished；　very　simply；　but　sufficiently；　by　the　kindness　of　a　lady；　Miss　Oliver；　the　only　daughter　of　the　sole　rich　man　in　my　parish—Mr。　Oliver；　the　proprietor　of　a　needle…　factory　and　iron…foundry　in　the　valley。　The　same　lady　pays　for　the　education　and　clothing　of　an　orphan　from　the　workhouse；　on　condition　that　she　shall　aid　the　mistress　in　such　menial　offices　connected　with　her　own　house　and　the　school　as　her　occupation　of　teaching　will　prevent　her　having　time　to　discharge　in　person。　Will　you　be　this　mistress？”

He　put　the　question　rather　hurriedly；　he　seemed　half　to　expect　an　indignant；　o