第72部分(第2/8 頁)

ction　from　me　and　my　business。　I　was　obliged　to　recall　him　to　a　theme　which　was　of　necessity　one　of　close　and　anxious　interest　to　me。

“What　is　the　employment　you　had　in　view；　Mr。　Rivers？　I　hope　this　delay　will　not　have　increased　the　difficulty　of　securing　it。”

“Oh；　no；　since　it　is　in　employment　which　depends　only　on　me　to　give；　and　you　to　accept。”

He　again　paused：　there　seemed　a　reluctance　to　continue。　I　grew　impatient：　a　restless　movement　or　two；　and　an　eager　and　exacting　glance　fastened　on　his　face；　conveyed　the　feeling　to　him　as　effectually　as　words　could　have　done；　and　with　less　trouble。

“You　need　be　in　no　hurry　to　hear；”　he　said：　“let　me　frankly　tell　you；　I　have　nothing　eligible　or　profitable　to　suggest。　Before　I　explain；　recall；　if　you　please；　my　notice；　clearly　given；　that　if　I　helped　you；　it　must　be　as　the　blind　man　would　help　the　lame。　I　am　poor；　for　I　find　that；　when　I　have　paid　my　father’s　debts；　all　the　patrimony　remaining　to　me　will　be　this　crumbling　grange；　the　row　of　scathed　firs　behind；　and　the　patch　of　moorish　soil；　with　the　yew…　trees　and　holly…bushes　in　front。　I　am　obscure：　Rivers　is　an　old　name；　but　of　the　three　sole　descendants　of　the　race；　two　earn　the　dependant’s　crust　among　strangers；　and　the　third　considers　himself　an　alien　from　his　native　country—not　only　for　life；　but　in　death。　Yes；　and　deems；　and　is　bound　to　deem；　himself　honoured　by　the　lot；　and　aspires　but　after　the　day　when　the　cross　of　separation　from　fleshly　ties　sh