第79部分(第1/7 頁)

it　by　his　own　efforts；　he　was　free　to　leave　it　to　whom　he　would：　he　left　it　to　you。　After　all；　justice　permits　you　to　keep　it：　you　may；　with　a　clear　conscience；　consider　it　absolutely　your　own。”

“With　me；”　said　I；　“it　is　fully　as　much　a　matter　of　feeling　as　of　conscience：　I　must　indulge　my　feelings；　I　so　seldom　have　had　an　opportunity　of　doing　so。　Were　you　to　argue；　object；　and　annoy　me　for　a　year；　I　could　not　forego　the　delicious　pleasure　of　which　I　have　caught　a　glimpse—that　of　repaying；　in　part；　a　mighty　obligation；　and　winning　to　myself　lifelong　friends。”

“You　think　so　now；”　rejoined　St。　John；　“because　you　do　not　know　what　it　is　to　possess；　nor　consequently　to　enjoy　wealth：　you　cannot　form　a　notion　of　the　importance　twenty　thousand　pounds　would　give　you；　of　the　place　it　would　enable　you　to　take　in　society；　of　the　prospects　it　would　open　to　you：　you　cannot—”

“And　you；”　I　interrupted；　“cannot　at　all　imagine　the　craving　I　have　for　fraternal　and　sisterly　love。　I　never　had　a　home；　I　never　had　brothers　or　sisters；　I　must　and　will　have　them　now：　you　are　not　reluctant　to　admit　me　and　own　me；　are　you？”

“Jane；　I　will　be　your　brother—my　sisters　will　be　your　sisters—　without　stipulating　for　this　sacrifice　of　your　just　rights。”

“Brother？　Yes；　at　the　distance　of　a　thousand　leagues！　Sisters？　Yes；　slaving　amongst　strangers！　I；　wealthy—gorged　with　gold　I　never　earned　and　do　not　merit！　You；　penniless！　Famous　equality　and　fraternisation！　Close　union！　Intimate　attachment！”

“But；　Jane；　your　aspirations　after　family　ties　and　domestic　happiness　may　be　realised　otherwise　than　by　the　means　you　contemplate：　you　may　marry。”

“Nonsense；　again！　Marry！　I　don’t　want　to　marry；　and　never　shall　marry。”

“That　is　saying　too　much：　such　hazardou