第82部分(第1/7 頁)

am！”

Strange　words　of　a　strange　love！　An　austere　patriot’s　passion　for　his　fatherland！　He　sat　down；　for　half…an…hour　we　never　spoke；　neither　he　to　me　nor　I　to　him：　that　interval　past；　he　remenced—

“Jane；　I　go　in　six　weeks；　I　have　taken　my　berth　in　an　East　Indiaman　which　sails　on　the　20th　of　June。”

“God　will　protect　you；　for　you　have　undertaken　His　work；”　I　answered。

“Yes；”　said　he；　“there　is　my　glory　and　joy。　I　am　the　servant　of　an　infallible　Master。　I　am　not　going　out　under　human　guidance；　subject　to　the　defective　laws　and　erring　control　of　my　feeble　fellow…worms：　my　king；　my　lawgiver；　my　captain；　is　the　All…perfect。　It　seems　strange　to　me　that　all　round　me　do　not　burn　to　enlist　under　the　same　banner；—to　join　in　the　same　enterprise。”

“All　have　not　your　powers；　and　it　would　be　folly　for　the　feeble　to　wish　to　march　with　the　strong。”

“I　do　not　speak　to　the　feeble；　or　think　of　them：　I　address　only　such　as　are　worthy　of　the　work；　and　petent　to　acplish　it。”

“Those　are　few　in　number；　and　difficult　to　discover。”

“You　say　truly；　but　when　found；　it　is　right　to　stir　them　up—to　urge　and　exhort　them　to　the　effort—to　show　them　what　their　gifts　are；　and　why　they　were　given—to　speak　Heaven’s　message　in　their　ear；—to　offer　them；　direct　from　God；　a　place　in　the　ranks　of　His　chosen。”

“If　they　are　really　qualified　for　the　task；　will　not　their　own　hearts　be　the　first　to　inform　them　of　it？”

I　felt　as　if　an　awful　charm　was　framing　round　and　gathering　over　me：　I　trembled　to　hear　some　fatal　word　spoken　which　would　at　once　declare　and　rivet　the　spell。

“And　what　does　your　heart　say？”　demanded　St。　John。

“My　heart　is　mute；—my　heart　is　mute；”　I　answered；　struck　and　thrilled。

“Then　I　must　speak　for　it；”　co