第14部分(第4/8 頁)

t　love　me　I　would　rather　die　than　live—I　cannot　bear　to　be　solitary　and　hated；　Helen。　Look　here；　to　gain　some　real　affection　from　you；　or　Miss　Temple；　or　any　other　whom　I　truly　love；　I　would　willingly　submit　to　have　the　bone　of　my　arm　broken；　or　to　let　a　bull　toss　me；　or　to　stand　behind　a　kicking　horse；　and　let　it　dash　its　hoof　at　my　chest—”

“Hush；　Jane！　you　think　too　much　of　the　love　of　human　beings；　you　are　too　impulsive；　too　vehement；　the　sovereign　hand　that　created　your　frame；　and　put　life　into　it；　has　provided　you　with　other　resources　than　your　feeble　self；　or　than　creatures　feeble　as　you。　Besides　this　earth；　and　besides　the　race　of　men；　there　is　an　invisible　world　and　a　kingdom　of　spirits：　that　world　is　round　us；　for　it　is　everywhere；　and　those　spirits　watch　us；　for　they　are　missioned　to　guard　us；　and　if　we　were　dying　in　pain　and　shame；　if　scorn　smote　us　on　all　sides；　and　hatred　crushed　us；　angels　see　our　tortures；　recognise　our　innocence　（if　innocent　we　be：　as　I　know　you　are　of　this　charge　which　Mr。　Brocklehurst　has　weakly　and　pompously　repeated　at　second…hand　from　Mrs。　Reed；　for　I　read　a　sincere　nature　in　your　ardent　eyes　and　on　your　clear　front）；　and　God　waits　only　the　separation　of　spirit　from　flesh　to　crown　us　with　a　full　reward。　Why；　then；　should　we　ever　sink　overwhelmed　with　distress；　when　life　is　so　soon　over；　and　death　is　so　certain　an　entrance　to　happiness—　to　glory？”

I　was　silent；　Helen　had　calmed　me；　but　in　the　tranquillity　she　imparted　there　w