Isurveyedhim。ItseemedIhadfoundabrother:oneI
couldbeproudof，—oneIcouldlove;andtwosisters，whosequalitiesweresuch，that，whenIknewthembutasmerestrangers，theyhadinspiredmewithgenuineaffectionandadmiration。Thetwogirls，onwhom，kneelingdownonthewetground，andlookingthroughthelow，latticedwindowofMoorHousekitchen，Ihadgazedwithsobitteramixtureofinterestanddespair，weremynearkinswomen;andtheyoungandstatelygentlemanwhohadfoundmealmostdyingathisthresholdwasmybloodrelation。Gloriousdiscoverytoalonelywretch！Thiswaswealthindeed！—wealthtotheheart！—amineofpure，genialaffections。Thiswasablessing，bright，vivid，andexhilarating;—notliketheponderousgiftofgold:richandwelcomeenoughinitsway，butsoberingfromitsweight。Inowclappedmyhandsinsuddenjoy—
mypulsebounded，myveinsthrilled。
\'Oh，Iamglad！—Iamglad！\'Iexclaimed。
St。Johnsmiled。\'DidInotsayyouneglectedessentialpointstopursuetrifles？\'heasked。\'YouwereseriouswhenItoldyouyouhadgotafortune;andnow，foramatterofnomoment，youareexcited。\'
\'Whatcanyoumean？Itmaybeofnomomenttoyou;youhavesistersanddon\'tcareforacousin;butIhadnobody;andnowthreerelations，—ortwo，ifyoudon\'tchoosetobecounted，—arebornintomyworldfull—grown。Isayagain，Iamglad！\'
Iwalkedfastthroughtheroom:Istopped，halfsuffocatedwiththethoughtsthatrosefasterthanIcouldreceive，comprehend，settlethem:—thoughtsofwhatmight，could，would，andshouldbe，andthaterelong。Ilookedattheblankwall:itseemedaskythickwithascendingstars，—everyonelitmetoapurposeordelight。Thosewhohadsavedmylife，whom，tillthishour，Ihadlovedbarrenly，I
couldnowbenefit。Theywereunderayoke，—Icouldfreethem:theywerescattered，—Icouldreunitethem:theindependence，theaffluencewhichwasmine，mightbetheirstoo。Werewenotfour？Twentythousandpoundssharedequally，wouldbefivethousandeach，—enoughandtospare:justicewouldbedone，—mutualhappinesssecured。Nowthewealthdidnotweighonme:nowitwasnotamerebequestofcoin，—
itwasalegacyoflife，hope，enjoyment。
HowIlookedwhiletheseideasweretakingmyspiritbystorm，I
cannottell;butIperceivedsoonthatMr。Rivershadplacedachairbehindme，andwasgentlyattemptingtomakemesitdownonit。Healsoadvisedmetobecomposed;Iscornedtheinsinuationofhelplessnessanddistraction，shookoffhishand，andbegantowalkaboutagain。
\'WritetoDianaandMaryto—morrow，\'Isaid，\'andtellthemtocomehomedirectly。Dianasaidtheywouldbothconsiderthemselvesrichwithathousandpounds，sowithfivethousandtheywilldoverywell。\'
\'TellmewhereIcangetyouaglassofwater，\'saidSt。
John;\'youmustreallymakeanefforttotranquilliseyourfeelings。\'
\'Nonsense！andwhatsortofaneffectwillthebequesthaveonyou？
WillitkeepyouinEngland，induceyoutomarryMissOliver，andsettledownlikeanordinarymortal？\'
\'Youwander:yourheadbecomesconfused。Ihavebeentooabruptincommunicatingthenews;ithasexcitedyoubeyondyourstrength。\'
\'Mr。Rivers！youquiteputmeoutofpatience:Iamrationalenough;itisyouwhomisunderstand，orratherwhoaffecttomisunderstand。\'
\'Perhaps，ifyouexplainedyourselfalittlemorefully，Ishouldcomprehendbetter。\'
\'Explain！Whatistheretoexplain？Youcannotfailtoseethattwentythousandpounds，thesuminquestion，dividedequallybetweenthenephewandthreeniecesofouruncle，willgivefivethousandtoeach？WhatIwantis，thatyoushouldwritetoyoursistersandtellthemofthefortunethathasaccruedtothem。\'
\'Toyou，youmean。\'
\'Ihaveintimatedmyviewofthecase:Iamincapableoftakinganyother。Iamnotbrutallyselfish，blindlyunjust，orfiendishlyungrateful。Besides，IamresolvedIwillhaveahomeandconnections。
IlikeMoorHouse，andIwillliveatMoorHouse;IlikeDianaandMary，andIwillattachmyselfforlifetoDianaandMary。Itwouldpleaseandbenefitmetohavefivethousandpounds;itwouldtormentandoppressmetohavetwentythousand;which，moreover，couldneverbemineinjustice，thoughitmightinlaw。Iabandontoyou，then，whatisabsolutelysuperfluoustome。Lettherebenoopposition，andnodiscussionaboutit;letusagreeamongsteachother，anddecidethepointatonce。\'
\'Thisisactingonfirstimpulses;youmusttakedaystoconsidersuchamatter，ereyourwordcanberegardedasvalid。\'
\'Oh！ifallyoudoubtismysincerity，Iameasy:youseethejusticeofthecase？\'
\'Idoseeacertainjustice;butitiscontrarytoallcustom。
Besides，theentirefortuneisyourright:myunclegaineditbyhisownefforts;hewasfreetoleaveittowhomhewould:heleftittoyou。Afterall，justicepermitsyoutokeepit:youmay，withaclearconscience，consideritabsolutelyyourown。\'
\'Withme，\'saidI，\'itisfullyasmuchamatteroffeelingasofconscience:Imustindulgemyfeelings;Isoseldomhavehadanopportunityofdoingso。Wereyoutoargue，object，andannoymeforayear，IcouldnotforegothedeliciouspleasureofwhichIhavecaughtaglimpse—thatofrepaying，inpart，amightyobligation，andwinningtomyselflife—longfriends。\'
\'Youthinksonow，\'rejoinedSt。John，\'becauseyoudonotknowwhatitistopossess，norconsequentlytoenjoywealth:youcannotformanotionoftheimportancetwentythousandpoundswouldgiveyou;
oftheplaceitwouldenableyoutotakeinsociety;oftheprospectsitwouldopentoyou:youcannot—\'
\'Andyou，\'Iinterrupted，\'cannotatallimaginethecravingIhaveforfraternalandsisterlylove。Ineverhadahome，Ineverhadbrothersorsisters;Imustandwillhavethemnow:youarenotreluctanttoadmitmeandownme，areyou？\'
\'Jane，Iwillbeyourbrother—mysisterswillbeyoursisters—
withoutstipulatingforthissacrificeofyourjustrights。\'
\'Brother？Yes;atthedistanceofathousandleagues！Sisters？
Yes;
slavingamongststrangers！I，wealthy—gorgedwithgoldIneverearnedanddonotmerit！You，penniless！Famousequalityandfraternisation！Closeunion！Intimateattachment！\'
\'But，Jane，youraspirationsafterfamilytiesanddomestichappinessmayberealisedotherwisethanbythemeansyoucontemplate:
youmaymarry。\'
\'Nonsense，again！Marry！Idon\'twanttomarry，andnevershallmarry。\'
\'Thatissayingtoomuch:suchhazardousaffirmationsareaproofoftheexcitementunderwhichyoulabour。\'
\'Itisnotsayingtoomuch:IknowwhatIfeel，andhowaversearemyinclinationstothebarethoughtofmarriage。Noonewouldtakemeforlove;andIwillnotberegardedinthelightofameremoneyspeculation。AndIdonotwantastranger—unsympathising，alien，differentfromme;Iwantmykindred:thosewithwhomIhavefullfellow—feeling。Sayagainyouwillbemybrother:whenyouutteredthewordsIwassatisfied，happy;repeatthem，ifyoucan，repeatthemsincerely。\'
\'IthinkIcan。IknowIhavealwayslovedmyownsisters;
andI
knowonwhatmyaffectionforthemisgrounded，—respectfortheirworthandadmirationoftheirtalents。Youtoohaveprincipleandmind:yourtastesandhabitsresembleDiana\'sandMary\'s;yourpresenceisalwaysagreeabletome;inyourconversationIhavealreadyforsometimefoundasalutarysolace。IfeelIcaneasilyandnaturallymakeroominmyheartforyou，asmythirdandyoungestsister。\'
\'Thankyou:thatcontentsmeforto—night。Nowyouhadbettergo;
forifyoustaylonger，youwillperhapsirritatemeafreshbysomemistrustfulscruple。\'
\'Andtheschool，MissEyre？Itmustnowbeshutup，Isuppose？\'
\'No。Iwillretainmypostofmistresstillyougetasubstitute。\'
Hesmiledapprobation:weshookhands，andhetookleave。
IneednotnarrateindetailthefurtherstrugglesIhad，andargumentsIused，togetmattersregardingthelegacysettledasI
wished。Mytaskwasaveryhardone;but，asIwasabsolutelyresolved—asmycousinssawatlengththatmymindwasreallyandimmutablyfixedonmakingajustdivisionoftheproperty—astheymustintheirownheartshavefelttheequityoftheintention;andmust，besides，havebeeninnatelyconsciousthatinmyplacetheywouldhavedonepreciselywhatIwishedtodo—theyyieldedatlengthsofarastoconsenttoputtheaffairtoarbitration。ThejudgeschosenwereMr。Oliverandanablelawyer:bothcoincidedinmyopinion:Icarriedmypoint。Theinstrumentsoftransferweredrawnout:St。John，Diana，Mary，andI，eachbecamepossessedofacompetency。
chapter34
CHAPTERXXXIV
ITwasnearChristmasbythetimeallwassettled:theseasonofgeneralholidayapproached。InowclosedMortonschool，takingcarethatthepartingshouldnotbebarrenonmyside。Goodfortuneopensthehandaswellastheheartwonderfully;andtogivesomewhatwhenwehavelargelyreceived，isbuttoaffordaventtotheunusualebullitionofthesensations。Ihadlongfeltwithpleasurethatmanyofmyrusticscholarslikedme，andwhenweparted，thatconsciousnesswasconfirmed:theymanifestedtheiraffectionplainlyandstrongly。DeepwasmygratificationtofindIhadreallyaplaceintheirunsophisticatedhearts:IpromisedthemthatneveraweekshouldpassinfuturethatIdidnotvisitthem，andgivethemanhour\'steachingintheirschool。
Mr。Riverscameupas，havingseentheclasses，nownumberingsixtygirls，fileoutbeforeme，andlockedthedoor，Istoodwiththekeyinmyhand，exchangingafewwordsofspecialfarewellwithsomehalf—dozenofmybestscholars:asdecent，respectable，modest，andwell—informedyoungwomenascouldbefoundintheranksoftheBritishpeasantry。Andthatissayingagreatdeal;forafterall，theBritishpeasantryarethebesttaught，bestmannered，mostself—respectingofanyinEurope:sincethosedaysIhaveseenpaysannesandBauerinnen;andthebestofthemseemedtomeignorant，coarse，andbesotted，comparedwithmyMortongirls。
\'Doyouconsideryouhavegotyourrewardforaseasonofexertion？\'askedMr。Rivers，whentheyweregone。\'Doesnottheconsciousnessofhavingdonesomerealgoodinyourdayandgenerationgivepleasure？\'
\'Doubtless。\'
\'Andyouhaveonlytoiledafewmonths！Wouldnotalifedevotedtothetaskofregeneratingyourracebewellspent？\'
\'Yes，\'Isaid;\'butIcouldnotgoonforeverso:Iwanttoenjoymyownfacultiesaswellastocultivatethoseofotherpeople。Imustenjoythemnow;don\'trecalleithermymindorbodytotheschool;Iamoutofitanddisposedforfullholiday。\'
Helookedgrave。\'Whatnow？Whatsuddeneagernessisthisyouevince？Whatareyougoingtodo？\'
\'Tobeactive:asactiveasIcan。AndfirstImustbegyoutosetHannahatliberty，andgetsomebodyelsetowaitonyou。\'
\'Doyouwanther？\'
\'Yes，togowithmetoMoorHouse。DianaandMarywillbeathomeinaweek，andIwanttohaveeverythinginorderagainsttheirarrival。\'
\'Iunderstand。Ithoughtyouwereforflyingoffonsomeexcursion。
Itisbetterso:Hannahshallgowithyou。\'
\'Tellhertobereadybyto—morrowthen;andhereistheschoolroomkey:Iwillgiveyouthekeyofmycottageinthemorning。\'
Hetookit。\'Yougiveitupverygleefully，\'saidhe;\'I
don\'tquiteunderstandyourlight—heartedness，becauseIcannottellwhatemploymentyouproposetoyourselfasasubstitutefortheoneyouarerelinquishing。Whataim，whatpurpose，whatambitioninlifehaveyounow？\'
\'Myfirstaimwillbetocleandown（doyoucomprehendthefullforceoftheexpression？）—tocleandownMoorHousefromchambertocellar;mynexttorubitupwithbees—wax，oil，andanindefinitenumberofcloths，tillitglittersagain;mythird，toarrangeeverychair，table，bed，carpet，withmathematicalprecision;afterwardsI
shallgoneartoruinyouincoalsandpeattokeepupgoodfiresineveryroom;andlastly，thetwodaysprecedingthatonwhichyoursistersareexpectedwillbedevotedbyHannahandmetosuchabeatingofeggs，sortingofcurrants，gratingofspices，compoundingofChristmascakes，choppingupofmaterialsformince—pies，andsolemnisingofotherculinaryrites，aswordscanconveybutaninadequatenotionoftotheuninitiatedlikeyou。Mypurpose，inshort，istohaveallthingsinanabsolutelyperfectstateofreadinessforDianaandMarybeforenextThursday;andmyambitionistogivethemabeau—idealofawelcomewhentheycome。\'
St。Johnsmiledslightly:stillhewasdissatisfied。
\'Itisallverywellforthepresent，\'saidhe;\'butseriously，I
trustthatwhenthefirstflushofvivacityisover，youwilllookalittlehigherthandomesticendearmentsandhouseholdjoys。\'
\'Imean，onthecontrary，tobebusy。\'
\'Jane，Iexcuseyouforthepresent:twomonths\'graceIallowyouforthefullenjoymentofyournewposition，andforpleasingyourselfwiththislate—foundcharmofrelationship;butthen，I
hopeyouwillbegintolookbeyondMoorHouseandMorton，andsisterlysociety，andtheselfishcalmandsensualcomfortofcivilisedaffluence。Ihopeyourenergieswillthenoncemoretroubleyouwiththeirstrength。\'
Ilookedathimwithsurprise。\'St。John，\'Isaid，\'Ithinkyouarealmostwickedtotalkso。Iamdisposedtobeascontentasaqueen，andyoutrytostirmeuptorestlessness！Towhatend？\'
\'TotheendofturningtoprofitthetalentswhichGodhascommittedtoyourkeeping;andofwhichHewillsurelyonedaydemandastrictaccount。Jane，Ishallwatchyoucloselyandanxiously—Iwarnyouofthat。Andtrytorestrainthedisproportionatefervourwithwhichyouthrowyourselfintocommonplacehomepleasures。Don\'tclingsotenaciouslytotiesoftheflesh;saveyourconstancyandardourforanadequatecause;
forbeartowastethemontritetransientobjects。Doyouhear，Jane？\'
\'Yes;justasifyouwerespeakingGreek。IfeelIhaveadequatecausetobehappy，andIwillbehappy。Good—bye！\'
HappyatMoorHouseIwas，andhardIworked;andsodidHannah:
shewascharmedtoseehowjovialIcouldbeamidstthebustleofahouseturnedtopsy—turvy—howIcouldbrush，anddust，andclean，andcook。Andreally，afteradayortwoofconfusionworseconfounded，itwasdelightfulbydegreestoinvokeorderfromthetopurchasesomenewfurniture:mycousinshavinggivenmecarteblanchetoeffectwhatalterationsIpleased，andasumhavingbeensetasideforthatpurpose。Theordinarysitting—roomandbedroomsI
leftmuchastheywere:forIknewDianaandMarywouldderivemorepleasurefromseeingagaintheoldhomelytables，andchairs，andbeds，thanfromthespectacleofthesmartestinnovations。Stillsomenoveltywasnecessary，togivetotheirreturnthepiquancywithwhichIwishedittobeinvested。Darkhandsomenewcarpetsandcurtains，anarrangementofsomecarefullyselectedantiqueornamentsinporcelainandbronze，newcoverings，andmirrors，anddressing—cases，forthetoilet—tables，answeredtheend:theylookedfreshwithoutbeingglaring。AspareparlourandbedroomIrefurnishedentirely，witholdmahoganyandcrimsonupholstery:Ilaidcanvasonthepassage，andcarpetsonthestairs。Whenallwasfinished，I
thoughtMoorHouseascompleteamodelofbrightmodestsnugnesswithin，asitwas，atthisseason，aspecimenofwintrywasteanddesertdrearinesswithout。
TheeventfulThursdayatlengthcame。Theywereexpectedaboutdark，andereduskfireswerelitupstairsandbelow;thekitchenwasinperfecttrim;HannahandIweredressed，andallwasinreadiness。
St。Johnarrivedfirst。Ihadentreatedhimtokeepquiteclearofthehousetilleverythingwasarranged:and，indeed，thebareideaofthecommotion，atoncesordidandtrivial，goingonwithinitswallssufficedtoscarehimtoestrangement。Hefoundmeinthekitchen，watchingtheprogressofcertaincakesfortea，thenbaking。Approachingthehearth，heasked，\'IfIwasatlastsatisfiedwithhousemaid\'swork？\'Iansweredbyinvitinghimtoaccompanymeonageneralinspectionoftheresultofmylabours。Withsomedifficulty，Igothimtomakethetourofthehouse。HejustlookedinatthedoorsIopened;andwhenhehadwanderedupstairsanddownstairs，hesaidImusthavegonethroughagreatdealoffatigueandtroubletohaveeffectedsuchconsiderablechangesinsoshortatime:butnotasyllabledidheutterindicatingpleasureintheimprovedaspectofhisabode。
Thissilencedampedme。Ithoughtperhapsthealterationshaddisturbedsomeoldassociationshevalued。Iinquiredwhetherthiswasthecase:nodoubtinasomewhatcrestfallentone。
\'Notatall;hehad，onthecontrary，remarkedthatIhadscrupulouslyrespectedeveryassociation:hefeared，indeed，Imusthavebestowedmorethoughtonthematterthanitwasworth。Howmanyminutes，forinstance，hadIdevotedtostudyingthearrangementofthisveryroom？—Bythebye，couldItellhimwheresuchabookwas？\'
Ishowedhimthevolumeontheshelf:hetookitdown，andwithdrawingtohisaccustomedwindowrecess，hebegantoreadit。
Now，Ididnotlikethis，reader。St。Johnwasagoodman;
butI
begantofeelhehadspokentruthofhimselfwhenhesaidhewashardandcold。Thehumanitiesandamenitiesoflifehadnoattractionforhim—itspeacefulenjoymentsnocharm。Literally，helivedonlytoaspire—afterwhatwasgoodandgreat，certainly;butstillhewouldneverrest，norapproveofothersrestingroundhim。
AsIlookedathisloftyforehead，stillandpaleasawhitestone—athisfinelineamentsfixedinstudy—Icomprehendedallatoncethathewouldhardlymakeagoodhusband:thatitwouldbeatryingthingtobehiswife。Iunderstood，asbyinspiration，thenatureofhisloveforMissOliver;Iagreedwithhimthatitwasbutaloveofthesenses。Icomprehendedhowheshoulddespisehimselfforthefeverishinfluenceitexercisedoverhim;howheshouldwishtostifleanddestroyit;howheshouldmistrustitseverconducingpermanentlytohishappinessorhers。Isawhewasofthematerialfromwhichnaturehewsherheroes—ChristianandPagan—herlawgivers，herstatesmen，herconquerors:asteadfastbulwarkforgreatintereststorestupon;but，atthefireside，toooftenacoldcumbrouscolumn，gloomyandoutofplace。
\'Thisparlourisnothissphere，\'Ireflected:\'theHimalayanridgeorCaffrebush，eventheplague—cursedGuineaCoastswampwouldsuithimbetter。Wellmayheeschewthecalmofdomesticlife;itisnothiselement:therehisfacultiesstagnate—theycannotdeveloporappeartoadvantage。Itisinscenesofstrifeanddanger—wherecourageisproved，andenergyexercised，andfortitudetasked—thathewillspeakandmove，theleaderandsuperior。Amerrychildwouldhavetheadvantageofhimonthishearth。Heisrighttochooseamissionary\'scareer—Iseeitnow。\'
\'Theyarecoming！theyarecoming！\'criedHannah，throwingopentheparlourdoor。AtthesamemomentoldCarlobarkedjoyfully。OutIran。
Itwasnowdark;butarumblingofwheelswasaudible。Hannahsoonhadalanternlit。Thevehiclehadstoppedatthewicket;thedriveropenedthedoor:firstonewell—knownform，thenanother，steppedout。
InaminuteIhadmyfaceundertheirbonnets，incontactfirstwithMary\'ssoftcheek，thenwithDiana\'sflowingcurls。Theylaughed—
kissedme—thenHannah:pattedCarlo，whowashalfwildwithdelight;askedeagerlyifallwaswell;andbeingassuredintheaffirmative，hastenedintothehouse。
TheywerestiffwiththeirlongandjoltingdrivefromWhitcross，andchilledwiththefrostynightair;buttheirpleasantcountenancesexpandedtothecheerfulfirelight。WhilethedriverandHannahbroughtintheboxes，theydemandedSt。John。Atthismomentheadvancedfromtheparlour。Theyboththrewtheirarmsroundhisneckatonce。Hegaveeachonequietkiss，saidinalowtoneafewwordsofwelcome，stoodawhiletobetalkedto，andthen，intimatingthathesupposedtheywouldsoonrejoinhimintheparlour，withdrewthereastoaplaceofrefuge。
Ihadlittheircandlestogoupstairs，butDianahadfirsttogivehospitableordersrespectingthedriver;thisdone，bothfollowedme。Theyweredelightedwiththerenovationanddecorationsoftheirrooms;withthenewdrapery，andfreshcarpets，andrichtintedchinavases:theyexpressedtheirgratificationungrudgingly。Ihadthepleasureoffeelingthatmyarrangementsmettheirwishesexactly，andthatwhatIhaddoneaddedavividcharmtotheirjoyousreturnhome。
Sweetwasthatevening。Mycousins，fullofexhilaration，weresoeloquentinnarrativeandcomment，thattheirfluencycoveredSt。
John\'staciturnity:hewassincerelygladtoseehissisters;butintheirglowoffervourandflowofjoyhecouldnotsympathise。Theeventoftheday—thatis，thereturnofDianaandMary—pleasedhim;buttheaccompanimentsofthatevent，thegladtumult，thegarrulousgleeofreceptionirkedhim:Isawhewishedthecalmermorrowwascome。Intheverymeridianofthenight\'senjoyment，aboutanhouraftertea，arapwasheardatthedoor。Hannahenteredwiththeintimationthat\'apoorladwascome，atthatunlikelytime，tofetchMr。Riverstoseehismother，whowasdrawingaway。\'
\'Wheredoesshelive，Hannah？\'
\'ClearupatWhitcrossBrow，almostfourmilesoff，andmoorandmossalltheway。\'
\'TellhimIwillgo。\'
\'I\'msure，sir，youhadbetternot。It\'stheworstroadtotravelafterdarkthatcanbe:there\'snotrackatalloverthebog。Andthenitissuchabitternight—thekeenestwindyoueverfelt。Youhadbettersendword，sir，thatyouwillbethereinthemorning。\'
Buthewasalreadyinthepassage，puttingonhiscloak;
andwithoutoneobjection，onemurmur，hedeparted。Itwasthennineo\'clock:hedidnotreturntillmidnight。Starvedandtiredenoughhewas:buthelookedhappierthanwhenhesetout。Hehadperformedanactofduty;madeanexertion;felthisownstrengthtodoanddeny，andwasonbettertermswithhimself。
Iamafraidthewholeoftheensuingweektriedhispatience。
ItwasChristmasweek:wetooktonosettledemployment，butspentitinasortofmerrydomesticdissipation。Theairofthemoors，thefreedomofhome，thedawnofprosperity，actedonDianaandMary\'sspiritslikesomelife—givingelixir:theyweregayfrommorningtillnoon，andfromnoontillnight。Theycouldalwaystalk;andtheirdiscourse，witty，pithy，original，hadsuchcharmsforme，thatI
preferredlisteningto，andsharinginit，todoinganythingelse。St。
Johndidnotrebukeourvivacity;butheescapedfromit:hewasseldominthehouse;hisparishwaslarge，thepopulationscattered，andhefounddailybusinessinvisitingthesickandpoorinitsdifferentdistricts。
Onemorningatbreakfast，Diana，afterlookingalittlepensiveforsomeminutes，askedhim，\'Ifhisplanswereyetunchanged。\'
\'Unchangedandunchangeable，\'wasthereply。AndheproceededtoinformusthathisdeparturefromEnglandwasnowdefinitelyfixedfortheensuingyear。
\'AndRosamondOliver？\'suggestedMary，thewordsseemingtoescapeherlipsinvoluntarily:fornosoonerhadsheutteredthem，thanshemadeagestureasifwishingtorecallthem。St。Johnhadabookinhishand—itwashisunsocialcustomtoreadatmeals—heclosedit，andlookedup。
\'RosamondOliver，\'saidhe，\'isabouttobemarriedtoMr。
Granby，oneofthebestconnectedandmostestimableresidentsinfromherfatheryesterday。\'
Hissisterslookedateachotherandatme;weallthreelookedathim:hewassereneasglass。
\'Thematchmusthavebeengotuphastily，\'saidDiana:
\'theycannothaveknowneachotherlong。\'
Butwheretherearenoobstaclestoaunion，asinthepresentcase，wheretheconnectionisineverypointdesirable，delaysareFredericgivesuptothem，canberefittedfortheirreception。\'
ThefirsttimeIfoundSt。Johnaloneafterthiscommunication，I
felttemptedtoinquireiftheeventdistressedhim:butheseemedsolittletoneedsympathy，that，sofarfromventuringtoofferhimmore，IexperiencedsomeshameattherecollectionofwhatIhadalreadyhazarded。Besides，Iwasoutofpracticeintalkingtohim:
hisreservewasagainfrozenover，andmyfranknesswascongealedbeneathit。Hehadnotkepthispromiseoftreatingmelikehissisters;hecontinuallymadelittle，chillingdifferencesbetweenus，whichdidnotatalltendtothedevelopmentofcordiality:inshort，nowthatIwasacknowledgedhiskinswoman，andlivedunderthesameroofwithhim，Ifeltthedistancebetweenustobefargreaterthanwhenhehadknownmeonlyasthevillageschoolmistress。WhenIrememberedhowfarIhadoncebeenadmittedtohisconfidence，Icouldhardlycomprehendhispresentfrigidity。
Suchbeingthecase，Ifeltnotalittlesurprisedwhenheraisedhisheadsuddenlyfromthedeskoverwhichhewasstooping，andsaid—
\'Yousee，Jane，thebattleisfoughtandthevictorywon。\'
Startledatbeingthusaddressed，Ididnotimmediatelyreply:
afteramoment\'shesitationIanswered—
\'Butareyousureyouarenotinthepositionofthoseconquerorswhosetriumphshavecostthemtoodear？Wouldnotsuchanotherruinyou？\'
\'Ithinknot;andifIwere，itdoesnotmuchsignify;
Ishallneverbecalledupontocontendforsuchanother。Theeventoftheconflictisdecisive:mywayisnowclear;IthankGodforit！\'Sosaying，hereturnedtohispapersandhissilence。
Asourmutualhappiness（i。e。，Diana\'s，Mary\'s，andmine）
settledintoaquietercharacter，andweresumedourusualhabitsandregularstudies，St。Johnstayedmoreathome:hesatwithusinthesameroom，sometimesforhourstogether。WhileMarydrew，Dianapursuedacourseofencyclopaedicreadingshehad（tomyaweandamazement）undertaken，andIfaggedawayatGerman，heponderedamysticloreofhisown:thatofsomeEasterntongue，theacquisitionofwhichhethoughtnecessarytohisplans。
Thusengaged，heappeared，sittinginhisownrecess，quietandabsorbedenough;butthatblueeyeofhishadahabitofleavingtheoutlandish—lookinggrammar，andwanderingover，andsometimesfixinguponus，hisfellow—students，withacuriousintensityofobservation:
ifcaught，itwouldbeinstantlywithdrawn;yeteverandanon，itreturnedsearchinglytoourtable。Iwonderedwhatitmeant:I
wondered，too，atthepunctualsatisfactionheneverfailedtoexhibitonanoccasionthatseemedtomeofsmallmoment，namely，myweeklyvisittoMortonschool;andstillmorewasIpuzzledwhen，ifthedaywasunfavourable，iftherewassnow，orrain，orhighwind，andhissistersurgedmenottogo，hewouldinvariablymakelightoftheirsolicitude，andencouragemetoaccomplishthetaskwithoutregardtotheelements。
\'Janeisnotsuchaweaklingasyouwouldmakeher，\'hewouldsay:\'shecanbearamountainblast，orashower，orafewflakesofsnow，aswellasanyofus。Herconstitutionisbothsoundandelastic;—bettercalculatedtoendurevariationsofclimatethanmanymorerobust。\'
AndwhenIreturned，sometimesagooddealtired，andnotalittleweather—beaten，Ineverdaredcomplain，becauseIsawthattomurmurwouldbetovexhim:onalloccasionsfortitudepleasedhim;
thereversewasaspecialannoyance。
Oneafternoon，however，Igotleavetostayathome，becauseI
reallyhadacold。HissistersweregonetoMortoninmystead:I
satreadingSchiller;he，decipheringhiscrabbedOrientalscrolls。
AsIexchangedatranslationforanexercise，Ihappenedtolookhisway:
thereIfoundmyselfundertheinfluenceoftheever—watchfulblueeye。Howlongithadbeensearchingmethroughandthrough，andoverandover，Icannottell:sokeenwasit，andyetsocold，Ifeltforthemomentsuperstitious—asifIweresittingintheroomwithsomethinguncanny。
\'Jane，whatareyoudoing？\'
\'LearningGerman。\'
\'IwantyoutogiveupGermanandlearnHindostanee。\'
\'Youarenotinearnest？\'
\'InsuchearnestthatImusthaveitso:andIwilltellyouwhy。\'
HethenwentontoexplainthatHindostaneewasthelanguagehewashimselfatpresentstudying;that，asheadvanced，hewasapttoforgetthecommencement;thatitwouldassisthimgreatlytohaveapupilwithwhomhemightagainandagaingoovertheelements，andsofixthemthoroughlyinhismind;thathischoicehadhoveredforsometimebetweenmeandhissisters;butthathehadfixedonmebecausehesawIcouldsitatataskthelongestofthethree。WouldI
dohimthisfavour？Ishouldnot，perhaps，havetomakethesacrificelong，asitwantednowbarelythreemonthstohisdeparture。
St。Johnwasnotamantobelightlyrefused:youfeltthateveryimpressionmadeonhim，eitherforpainorpleasure，wasdeep—gravedandpermanent。Iconsented。WhenDianaandMaryreturned，theformerfoundherscholartransferredfromhertoherbrother:shelaughed，andbothsheandMaryagreedthatSt。Johnshouldneverhavepersuadedthemtosuchastep。Heansweredquietly—
\'Iknowit。\'
Ifoundhimaverypatient，veryforbearing，andyetanexactingmaster:heexpectedmetodoagreatdeal;andwhenIfulfilledhisexpectations，he，inhisownway，fullytestifiedhisapprobation。
Bydegrees，heacquiredacertaininfluenceovermethattookawaymylibertyofmind:hispraiseandnoticeweremorerestrainingthanhisindifference。Icouldnolongertalkorlaughfreelywhenhewasby，becauseatiresomelyimportunateinstinctremindedmethatvivacity（atleastinme）wasdistastefultohim。Iwassofullyawarethatonlyseriousmoodsandoccupationswereacceptable，thatinhispresenceeveryefforttosustainorfollowanyotherbecamevain:I
fellunderafreezingspell。Whenhesaid\'go，\'Iwent;\'come，\'I
came;\'dothis，\'Ididit。ButIdidnotlovemyservitude:I
wished，manyatime，hehadcontinuedtoneglectme。
Oneeveningwhen，atbedtime，hissistersandIstoodroundhim，biddinghimgood—night，hekissedeachofthem，aswashiscustom;
and，aswasequallyhiscustom，hegavemehishand。Diana，whochancedtobeinafrolicsomehumour（shewasnotpainfullycontrolledbyhiswill;forhers，inanotherway，wasasstrong），exclaimed—
\'St。John！youusedtocallJaneyourthirdsister，butyoudon\'ttreatherassuch:youshouldkisshertoo。\'
Shepushedmetowardshim。IthoughtDianaveryprovoking，andfeltuncomfortablyconfused;andwhileIwasthusthinkingandfeeling，St。