第82部分(第6/7 頁)

g；　endure　all　the　forms　of　love　（which　I　doubt　not　he　would　scrupulously　observe）　and　know　that　the　spirit　was　quite　absent？　Can　I　bear　the　consciousness　that　every　endearment　he　bestows　is　a　sacrifice　made　on　principle？　No：　such　a　martyrdom　would　be　monstrous。　I　will　never　undergo　it。　As　his　sister；　I　might　acpany　him—not　as　his　wife：　I　will　tell　him　so。”

I　looked　towards　the　knoll：　there　he　lay；　still　as　a　prostrate　column；　his　face　turned　to　me：　his　eye　beaming　watchful　and　keen。　He　started　to　his　feet　and　approached　me。

“I　am　ready　to　go　to　India；　if　I　may　go　free。”

“Your　ansentary；”　he　said；　“it　is　not　clear。”

“You　have　hitherto　been　my　adopted　brother—I；　your　adopted　sister：　let　us　continue　as　such：　you　and　I　had　better　not　marry。”

He　shook　his　head。　“Adopted　fraternity　will　not　do　in　this　case。　If　you　were　my　real　sister　it　would　be　different：　I　should　take　you；　and　seek　no　wife。　But　as　it　is；　either　our　union　must　be　consecrated　and　sealed　by　marriage；　or　it　cannot　exist：　practical　obstacles　oppose　themselves　to　any　other　plan。　Do　you　not　see　it；　Jane？　Consider　a　moment—your　strong　sense　will　guide　you。”

I　did　consider；　and　still　my　sense；　such　as　it　was；　directed　me　only　to　the　fact　that　we　did　not　love　each　other　as　man　and　wife　should：　and　therefore　it　inferred　we　ought　not　to　marry。　I　said　so。　“St。　John；”　I　returned；　“I　regard　you　as　a　brother—you；　me　as　a　sister：　so　let　us　continue。”

“We　cannot—we　cannot；”　he　answered；　with　short；　sharp　determination：　“it　would　not　do。　You　have　said　you　will　go　with　me　to　India：　remember—you　have　said　that。”

“Conditionally。”

“Well—well。　To　the　main　point—the　departure　with　me　from　England；　the　co…operation　with　me　in　my　future　labours—you　do　not　object。　You　have