第85部分(第4/8 頁)

　prayer　over；　we　took　leave　of　him：　he　was　to　go　at　a　very　early　hour　in　the　morning。　Diana　and　Mary　having　kissed　him；　left　the　room—in　pliance；　I　think；　with　a　whispered　hint　from　him：　I　tendered　my　hand；　and　wished　him　a　pleasant　journey。

“Thank　you；　Jane。　As　I　said；　I　shall　return　from　Cambridge　in　a　fortnight：　that　space；　then；　is　yet　left　you　for　reflection。　If　I　listened　to　human　pride；　I　should　say　no　more　to　you　of　marriage　with　me；　but　I　listen　to　my　duty；　and　keep　steadily　in　view　my　first　aim—to　do　all　things　to　the　glory　of　God。　My　Master　was　long…　suffering：　so　will　I　be。　I　cannot　give　you　up　to　perdition　as　a　vessel　of　wrath：　repent—resolve；　while　there　is　yet　time。　Remember；　we　are　bid　to　work　while　it　is　day—warned　that　‘the　night　eth　when　no　man　shall　work。’　Remember　the　fate　of　Dives；　who　had　his　good　things　in　this　life。　God　give　you　strength　to　choose　that　better　part　which　shall　not　be　taken　from　you！”

He　laid　his　hand　on　my　head　as　he　uttered　the　last　words。　He　had　spoken　earnestly；　mildly：　his　look　was　not；　indeed；　that　of　a　lover　beholding　his　mistress；　but　it　was　that　of　a　pastor　recalling　his　wandering　sheep—or　better；　of　a　guardian　angel　watching　the　soul　for　which　he　is　responsible。　All　men　of　talent；　whether　they　be　men　of　feeling　or　not；　whether　they　be　zealots；　or　aspirants；　or　despots—provided　only　they　be　sincere—have　their　sublime　moments；　when　they　subdue　and　rule。　I　felt　veneration　for　St。　John—　veneration　so　strong　that　its