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e portrait。
“she is lovely；” he murmured。 “she is well named the rose of the world； indeed！”
“and may i not paint one like it for you？”
“cui bono？ no。”
he drew over the picture the sheet of thin paper on which i was accustomed to rest my hand in painting； to prevent the cardboard from being sullied。 what he suddenly saw on this blank paper； it was impossible for me to tell； but something had caught his eye。 he took it up with a snatch； he looked at the edge； then shot a glance at me； inexpressibly peculiar； and quite inprehensible： a glance that seemed to take and make note of every point in my shape； face； and dress； for it traversed all； quick； keen as lightning。 his lips parted； as if to speak： but he checked the ing sentence； whatever it was。
“what is the matter？” i asked。
“nothing in the world；” was the reply； and； replacing the paper； i saw him dexterously tear a narrow slip from the margin。 it disappeared in his glove； and； with one hasty nod and “good… afternoon；” he vanished。
“well！” i exclaimed； using an expression of the district； “that caps the globe； however！”
i； in my turn； scrutinised the paper； but saw nothing on it save a few dingy stains of paint where i had tried the tint in my pencil。 i pondered the mystery a minute or two； but finding it insolvable； and being certain it could not be of much moment； i dismissed； and soon forgot it。
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Chapter 33
it was near christmas by the time all was settled： the season of general holiday approached。 i now closed morton school； taking care that the parting should not be barren on my side。 good fortune opens the hand as well as the heart wonderfully； and to give somewhat when we have largely received； is but to afford a vent to the unusual ebullition of the sensations。 i had long felt with pleasure that many of my rustic scholars liked me； and when we parted； that consciousness was confirmed： they manifested their affection plainly and strongly。 deep was my gratification to find i had really a place in their unsophisticated hearts： i promised them that never a week should pass in future that i did not visit them； and give them an hour’s teaching in their school。
mr。 rivers came up as； having seen the classes； now numbering sixty girls； file out before me； and locked the door； i stood with the key in my hand； exchanging a few words of special farewell with some half…dozen of my best scholars： as decent； respectable； modest； and well…informed young women as could be found in the ranks of the british peasantry。 and that is saying a great deal； for after all； the british peasantry are the best taught； best mannered； most self… respecting of any in europe： since those days i have seen paysannes and bauerinnen； and the best of them seemed to me ignorant； coarse； and besotted； pared with my morton girls。
“do you consider you have got your reward for a season of exertion？” asked mr。 rivers； when they were gone。 “does not the consciousness of having done some real good in your day and generation give pleasure？”
“doubtless。”
“and you have only toiled a few months！ would not a life devoted to the task of regenerating your race be well spent？”
“yes；” i said； “but i could not go on for ever so： i want to enjoy my own faculties as well as to cultivate those of other people。 i must enjoy them now； don’t recall either my mind or body to the school； i am out of it and disposed for full holiday。”
he looked grave。 “what now？ what sudden eagerness is this you evince？ what are you going to do？”
“to be active： as active as i can。 and first i must beg you to set hannah at liberty； and get somebody else to wait on you。”
“do you want her？”
“yes； to go with me to moor house。 diana and mary will be at home in a week； and i want to have everything in order against their arrival。”
“i understand。 i thought you were for flying off on some excursion。 it is better so： hannah shall go with you。”
“tell her to be ready by to…morrow then； and here is the schoolroom key： i will give you the key of my cottage in the morning。”
he took it。 “you give it up very gleefully；” said he； “i don’t quite understand your light…heartedness； because i cannot tell what employment you propose to yourself as a substitute for the one you are relinquishing。 what aim； what purpose； what ambition in life have you now？”
“my first aim will be to clean down （do you prehend the full force of the expression？）—to clean down moor house from chamber to cellar； my next to rub it up with bees…wax； oil； and an indefinite number of cloths； till it glitters again； my third； to arrange every chair； table； bed； carpet； with mathematical precision； afterwards i shall go near to ruin you in coals and peat to keep up good fires in every room； and lastly； the two days preceding that on which your sisters are expected will be devoted by hannah and me to such a beating of eggs； sorting of currants； grating of spices； pounding of christmas cakes； chopping up of materials for mince…pies； and solemnising of other culinary rites； as words can convey but an inadequate notion of to the uninitiated like you。 my purpose； in short； is to have all things in an absolutely perfect state of readiness for diana and mary before next thursday； and my ambition is to give them a beau…ideal of a wele when they e。”
st。 john smiled slightly： still he was dissatisfied。
“it is all very well for the present；” said he； “but seriously； i trust that when the first flush of vivacity is over； you will look a little higher than domestic endearments and household joys。”
“the best things the world has！” i interrupted。
“no； jane； no： this world is not the scene of fruition； do not attempt to make it so： nor of rest； do not turn slothful。”
“i mean； on the contrary； to be busy。”
“jane； i excuse you for the present： two months’ grace i allow you for the full enjoyment of your new position； and for pleasing yourself with this late…found charm of relationship； but then； i hope you will begin to look beyond moor house and morton； and sisterly society； and the selfish calm and sensual fort of civilised affluence。 i hope your energies