第76部分(第1/7 頁)

薄�e　murmured；　“the　eye　is　well　managed：　the　colour；　light；　expression；　are　perfect。　It　smiles！”

“Would　it　fort；　or　would　it　wound　you　to　have　a　similar　painting？　Tell　me　that。　When　you　are　at　Madagascar；　or　at　the　Cape；　or　in　India；　would　it　be　a　consolation　to　have　that　memento　in　your　possession？　or　would　the　sight　of　it　bring　recollections　calculated　to　enervate　and　distress？”

He　now　furtively　raised　his　eyes：　he　glanced　at　me；　irresolute；　disturbed：　he　again　surveyed　the　picture。

“That　I　should　like　to　have　it　is　certain：　whether　it　would　be　judicious　or　wise　is　another　question。”

Since　I　had　ascertained　that　Rosamond　really　preferred　him；　and　that　her　father　was　not　likely　to　oppose　the　match；　I—less　exalted　in　my　views　than　St。　John—had　been　strongly　disposed　in　my　own　heart　to　advocate　their　union。　It　seemed　to　me　that；　should　he　bee　the　possessor　of　Mr。　Oliver’s　large　fortune；　he　might　do　as　much　good　with　it　as　if　he　went　and　laid　his　genius　out　to　wither；　and　his　strength　to　waste；　under　a　tropical　sun。　With　this　persuasion　I　now　answered—

“As　far　as　I　can　see；　it　would　be　wiser　and　more　judicious　if　you　were　to　take　to　yourself　the　original　at　once。”

By　this　time　he　had　sat　down：　he　had　laid　the　picture　on　the　table　before　him；　and　with　his　brow　supported　on　both　hands；　hung　fondly　over　it。　I　discerned　he　was　now　neither　angry　nor　shocked　at　my　audacity。　I　saw　even　that　to　be　thus　frankly　addressed　on　a　subject　he　had　deemed　unapproachable—to　hear　it　thus　freely　handled—was　beginning　to　be　felt　by　him　as　a　new　pleasure—an　unhoped…for　relief。　Reserved　people　often　really　need　the　frank　discussion　of　their　sentiments　and　griefs　more　than　the　expansive。　The　sternest…　seeming　stoic　is　human　after　all；　and　to　“burst”　w