第76部分(第2/7 頁)

ith　boldness　and　good…will　into　“the　silent　sea”　of　their　souls　is　often　to　confer　on　them　the　first　of　obligations。

“She　likes　you；　I　am　sure；”　said　I；　as　I　stood　behind　his　chair；　“and　her　father　respects　you。　Moreover；　she　is　a　sweet　girl—rather　thoughtless；　but　you　would　have　sufficient　thought　for　both　yourself　and　her。　You　ought　to　marry　her。”

“Does　she　like　me？”　he　asked。

“Certainly；　better　than　she　likes　any　one　else。　She　talks　of　you　continually：　there　is　no　subject　she　enjoys　so　much　or　touches　upon　so　often。”

“It　is　very　pleasant　to　hear　this；”　he　said—“very：　go　on　for　another　quarter　of　an　hour。”　And　he　actually　took　out　his　watch　and　laid　it　upon　the　table　to　measure　the　time。

“But　where　is　the　use　of　going　on；”　I　asked；　“when　you　are　probably　preparing　some　iron　blow　of　contradiction；　or　forging　a　fresh　chain　to　fetter　your　heart？”

“Don’t　imagine　such　hard　things。　Fancy　me　yielding　and　melting；　as　I　am　doing：　human　love　rising　like　a　freshly　opened　fountain　in　my　mind　and　overflowing　with　sweet　inundation　all　the　field　I　have　so　carefully　and　with　such　labour　prepared—so　assiduously　sown　with　the　seeds　of　good　intentions；　of　self…denying　plans。　And　now　it　is　deluged　with　a　nectarous　flood—the　young　germs　swamped—delicious　poison　cankering　them：　now　I　see　myself　stretched　on　an　ottoman　in　the　drawing…room　at　Vale　Hall　at　my　bride　Rosamond　Oliver’s　feet：　she　is　talking　to　me　with　her　sweet　voice—gazing　down　on　me　with　those　eyes　your　skilful　hand　has　copied　so　well—smiling　at　me　with　these　coral　lips。　She　is　mine—I　am　hers—this　present　life　and　passing　world　suffice　to　me。　Hush！　say　nothing—my　heart　is　full　of　delight—my　senses　are　entranced—let　the　time　I　marked　pass　in　peace。”

I　humoured　him：　the　watch　ticke