第6部分(第5/7 頁)

　in　the　duties　she　wished　to　undertake。　What　a　grinning　stare　would　e　to　the　face　of　any　labourer　nowadays；　who　should　be　asked　to　do　the　like！　I　no　longer　wonder　that　my　housekeeper　so　little　resembles　the　average　of　her　kind。

XVII

A　day　of　almost　continuous　rain；　yet　for　me　a　day　of　delight。　I　had　breakfasted；　and　was　poring　over　the　map　of　Devon　（how　I　love　a　good　map！）　to　trace　an　expedition　that　I　have　in　view；　when　a　knock　came　at　my　door；　and　Mrs。　M。　bore　in　a　great　brown…paper　parcel；　which　I　saw　at　a　glance　must　contain　books。　The　order　was　sent　to　London　a　few　days　ago；　I　had　not　expected　to　have　my　books　so　soon。　With　throbbing　heart　I　set　the　parcel　on　a　clear　table；　eyed　it　whilst　I　mended　the　fire；　then　took　my　pen…knife；　and　gravely；　deliberately；　though　with　hand　that　trembled；　began　to　unpack。

It　is　a　joy　to　go　through　booksellers'　catalogues；　ticking　here　and　there　a　possible　purchase。　Formerly；　when　I　could　seldom　spare　money；　I　kept　catalogues　as　much　as　possible　out　of　sight；　now　I　savour　them　page　by　page；　and　make　a　pleasant　virtue　of　the　discretion　I　must　needs　impose　upon　myself。　But　greater　still　is　the　happiness　of　unpacking　volumes　which　one　has　bought　without　seeing　them。　I　am　no　hunter　of　rarities；　I　care　nothing　for　first　editions　and　for　tall　copies；　what　I　buy　is　literature；　food　for　the　soul　of　man。　The　first　glimpse　of　bindings　when　the　inmost　protective　wrapper　has　been　folded　back！　The　first　scent　of　BOOKS！　The　first　gleam　of　a　gilded　title！　Here　is　a　work　the　name　of　which　has　been　known　to　me　for　half　a　lifetime；　but　which　I　never　yet　saw；　I　take　it　reverently　in　my　hand；　gently　I　open　it；　my　eyes　are　dim　with　excitement　as　I　glance　over　chapter…headings；　and　anticipate　the　treat　which　awaits　me。　Who；　more　than