第1部分(第3/8 頁)

　for　me；　and　I　must　thank　them　in　vague　terms；　but　my　Publishers　are　definite：　so　are　certain　generous　critics　who　have　encouraged　me　as　only　large…hearted　and　high…minded　men　know　how　to　encourage　a　struggling　stranger；　to　them；　i。e。；　to　my　Publishers　and　the　select　Reviewers；　I　say　cordially；　Gentlemen；　I　thank　you　from　my　heart。

Having　thus　acknowledged　what　I　owe　those　who　have　aided　and　approved　me；　I　turn　to　another　class；　a　small　one；　so　far　as　I　know；　but　not；　therefore；　to　be　overlooked。　I　mean　the　timorous　or　carping　few　who　doubt　the　tendency　of　such　books　as　“Jane　Eyre：”　in　whose　eyes　whatever　is　unusual　is　wrong；　whose　ears　detect　in　each　protest　against　bigotry—that　parent　of　crime—an　insult　to　piety；　that　regent　of　God　on　earth。　I　would　suggest　to　such　doubters　certain　obvious　distinctions；　I　would　remind　them　of　certain　simple　truths。

Conventionality　is　not　morality。　Self…righteousness　is　not　religion。　To　attack　the　first　is　not　to　assail　the　last。　To　pluck　the　mask　from　the　face　of　the　Pharisee；　is　not　to　lift　an　impious　hand　to　the　Crown　of　Thorns。

These　things　and　deeds　are　diametrically　opposed：　they　are　as　distinct　as　is　vice　from　virtue。　Men　too　often　confound　them：　they　should　not　be　confounded：　appearance　should　not　be　mistaken　for　truth；　narrow　human　doctrines；　that　only　tend　to　elate　and　magnify　a　few；　should　not　be　substituted　for　the　world…redeeming　creed　of　Christ。　There　is—I　repeat　it—a　difference；　and　it　is　a　good；　and　not　a