第83部分(第3/8 頁)

ill　hasten　to　enter　into　that　union　at　once。”

“Shall　I？”　I　said　briefly；　and　I　looked　at　his　features；　beautiful　in　their　harmony；　but　strangely　formidable　in　their　still　severity；　at　his　brow；　manding　but　not　open；　at　his　eyes；　bright　and　deep　and　searching；　but　never　soft；　at　his　tall　imposing　figure；　and　fancied　myself　in　idea　HIS　WIFE。　Oh！　it　would　never　do！　As　his　curate；　his　rade；　all　would　be　right：　I　would　cross　oceans　with　him　in　that　capacity；　toil　under　Eastern　suns；　in　Asian　deserts　with　him　in　that　office；　admire　and　emulate　his　courage　and　devotion　and　vigour；　acmodate　quietly　to　his　masterhood；　smile　undisturbed　at　his　ineradicable　ambition；　discriminate　the　Christian　from　the　man：　profoundly　esteem　the　one；　and　freely　forgive　the　other。　I　should　suffer　often；　no　doubt；　attached　to　him　only　in　this　capacity：　my　body　would　be　under　rather　a　stringent　yoke；　but　my　heart　and　mind　would　be　free。　I　should　still　have　my　unblighted　self　to　turn　to：　my　natural　unenslaved　feelings　with　which　to　municate　in　moments　of　loneliness。　There　would　be　recesses　in　my　mind　which　would　be　only　mine；　to　which　he　never　came；　and　sentiments　growing　there　fresh　and　sheltered　which　his　austerity　could　never　blight；　nor　his　measured　warrior…march　trample　down：　but　as　his　wife—at　his　side　always；　and　always　restrained；　and　always　checked—forced　to　keep　the　fire　of　my　nature　continually　low；　to　pel　it　to　burn　inwardly　and　never　utter　a　cry；　though　the　imprisoned　flame　consumed　vita