第80部分(第7/8 頁)

ection　of　what　I　had　already　hazarded。　Besides；　I　was　out　of　practice　in　talking　to　him：　his　reserve　was　again　frozen　over；　and　my　frankness　was　congealed　beneath　it。　He　had　not　kept　his　promise　of　treating　me　like　his　sisters；　he　continually　made　little　chilling　differences　between　us；　which　did　not　at　all　tend　to　the　development　of　cordiality：　in　short；　now　that　I　was　acknowledged　his　kinswoman；　and　lived　under　the　same　roof　with　him；　I　felt　the　distance　between　us　to　be　far　greater　than　when　he　had　known　me　only　as　the　village　schoolmistress。　When　I　remembered　how　far　I　had　once　been　admitted　to　his　confidence；　I　could　hardly　prehend　his　present　frigidity。

Such　being　the　case；　I　felt　not　a　little　surprised　when　he　raised　his　head　suddenly　from　the　desk　over　which　he　was　stooping；　and　said—

“You　see；　Jane；　the　battle　is　fought　and　the　victory　won。”

Startled　at　being　thus　addressed；　I　did　not　immediately　reply：　after　a　moment’s　hesitation　I　answered—

“But　are　you　sure　you　are　not　in　the　position　of　those　conquerors　whose　triumphs　have　cost　them　too　dear？　Would　not　such　another　ruin　you？”

“I　think　not；　and　if　I　were；　it　does　not　much　signify；　I　shall　never　be　called　upon　to　contend　for　such　another。　The　event　of　the　conflict　is　decisive：　my　way　is　now　clear；　I　thank　God　for　it！”　So　saying；　he　returned　to　his　papers　and　his　silence。

As　our　mutual　happiness　（i。e。；　Diana’s；　Mary’s；　and　mine）　settled　into　a　quieter　character；　and　we　resum