第83部分(第4/8 頁)

l　after　vital—this　would　be　unendurable。

“St。　John！”　I　exclaimed；　when　I　had　got　so　far　in　my　meditation。

“Well？”　he　answered　icily。

“I　repeat　I　freely　consent　to　go　with　you　as　your　fellow…missionary；　but　not　as　your　wife；　I　cannot　marry　you　and　bee　part　of　you。”

“A　part　of　me　you　must　bee；”　he　answered　steadily；　“otherwise　the　whole　bargain　is　void。　How　can　I；　a　man　not　yet　thirty；　take　out　with　me　to　India　a　girl　of　nieen；　unless　she　be　married　to　me？　How　can　we　be　for　ever　together—sometimes　in　solitudes；　sometimes　amidst　savage　tribes—and　unwed？”

“Very　well；”　I　said　shortly；　“under　the　circumstances；　quite　as　well　as　if　I　were　either　your　real　sister；　or　a　man　and　a　clergyman　like　yourself。”

“It　is　known　that　you　are　not　my　sister；　I　cannot　introduce　you　as　such：　to　attempt　it　would　be　to　fasten　injurious　suspicions　on　us　both。　And　for　the　rest；　though　you　have　a　man’s　vigorous　brain；　you　have　a　woman’s　heart　and—it　would　not　do。”

“It　would　do；”　I　affirmed　with　some　disdain；　“perfectly　well。　I　have　a　woman’s　heart；　but　not　where　you　are　concerned；　for　you　I　have　only　a　rade’s　constancy；　a　fellow…soldier’s　frankness；　fidelity；　fraternity；　if　you　like；　a　neophyte’s　respect　and　submission　to　his　hierophant：　nothing　more—don’t　fear。”

“It　is　what　I　want；”　he　said；　speaking　to　himself；　“it　is　just　what　I　want。　And　there　are　obstacles　in　the　way：　they　must　be　hewn　down。　Jane；　you　would　not　repent　marrying　me—be　certain　of