第17部分(第1/7 頁)

e？”

“I　am　sure　there　is　a　future　state；　I　believe　God　is　good；　I　can　resign　my　immortal　part　to　Him　without　any　misgiving。　God　is　my　father；　God　is　my　friend：　I　love　Him；　I　believe　He　loves　me。”

“And　shall　I　see　you　again；　Helen；　when　I　die？”

“You　will　e　to　the　same　region　of　happiness：　be　received　by　the　same　mighty；　universal　Parent；　no　doubt；　dear　Jane。”

Again　I　questioned；　but　this　time　only　in　thought。　“Where　is　that　region？　Does　it　exist？”　And　I　clasped　my　arms　closer　round　Helen；　she　seemed　dearer　to　me　than　ever；　I　felt　as　if　I　could　not　let　her　go；　I　lay　with　my　face　hidden　on　her　neck。　Presently　she　said；　in　the　sweetest　tone—

“How　fortable　I　am！　That　last　fit　of　coughing　has　tired　me　a　little；　I　feel　as　if　I　could　sleep：　but　don’t　leave　me；　Jane；　I　like　to　have　you　near　me。”

“I’ll　stay　with　you；　dear　Helen：　no　one　shall　take　me　way。”

“Are　you　warm；　darling？”

“Yes。”

“Good…night；　Jane。”

“Good…night；　Helen。”

She　kissed　me；　and　I　her；　and　we　both　soon　slumbered。

When　I　awoke　it　was　day：　an　unusual　movement　roused　me；　I　looked　up；　I　was　in　somebody’s　arms；　the　nurse　held　me；　she　was　carrying　me　through　the　passage　back　to　the　dormitory。　I　was　not　reprimanded　for　leaving　my　bed；　people　had　something　else　to　think　about；　no　explanation　was　afforded　then　to　my　many　questions；　but　a　day　or　two　afterwards　I　learned　that　Miss　Temple；　on　returning　to　her　own　room　at　dawn；　had　found　me　laid　in　the　little　crib；　my　face　against　Helen　Burns’s　shoulder；　my　arms　round　her　neck。　I　was　asleep；　and　Helen　was—dead。

Her　grave　is　in　Brocklebridge　churchyard：　for　fifteen　years　after　her　death　it　was　only　covered　by　a　grassy　mound；　but　now　a　grey　marble　tablet　marks　the　spot；　inscribed　with