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sisterly society； and the selfish calm and sensual fort of civilised affluence。 i hope your energies will then once more trouble you with their strength。”
i looked at him with surprise。 “st。 john；” i said； “i think you are almost wicked to talk so。 i am disposed to be as content as a queen； and you try to stir me up to restlessness！ to what end？”
“to the end of turning to profit the talents which god has mitted to your keeping； and of which he will surely one day demand a strict account。 jane； i shall watch you closely and anxiously—i warn you of that。 and try to restrain the disproportionate fervour with which you throw yourself into monplace home pleasures。 don’t cling so tenaciously to ties of the flesh； save your constancy and ardour for an adequate cause； forbear to waste them on trite transient objects。 do you hear； jane？”
“yes； just as if you were speaking greek。 i feel i have adequate cause to be happy； and i will be happy。 goodbye！”
happy at moor house i was； and hard i worked； and so did hannah： she was charmed to see how jovial i could be amidst the bustle of a house turned topsy…turvy—how i could brush； and dust； and clean； and cook。 and really； after a day or two of confusion worse confounded； it was delightful by degrees to invoke order from the chaos ourselves had made。 i had previously taken a journey to s… to purchase some new furniture： my cousins having given me carte blanche to effect what alterations i pleased； and a sum having been set aside for that purpose。 the ordinary sitting…room and bedrooms i left much as they were： for i knew diana and mary would derive more pleasure from seeing again the old homely tables； and chairs； and beds； than from the spectacle of the smartest innovations。 still some novelty was necessary； to give to their return the piquancy with which i wished it to be invested。 dark handsome new carpets and curtains； an arrangement of some carefully selected antique ornaments in porcelain and bronze； new coverings； and mirrors； and dressing…cases； for the toilet tables； answered the end： they looked fresh without being glaring。 a spare parlour and bedroom i refurnished entirely； with old mahogany and crimson upholstery： i laid canvas on the passage； and carpets on the stairs。 when all was finished； i thought moor house as plete a model of bright modest snugness within； as it was； at this season； a specimen of wintry waste and desert dreariness without。
the eventful thursday at length came。 they were expected about dark； and ere dusk fires were lit upstairs and below； the kitchen was in perfect trim； hannah and i were dressed； and all was in readiness。
st。 john arrived first。 i had entreated him to keep quite clear of the house till everything was arranged： and； indeed； the bare idea of the motion； at once sordid and trivial； going on within its walls sufficed to scare him to estrangement。 he found me in the kitchen； watching the progress of certain cakes for tea； then baking。 approaching the hearth； he asked； “if i was at last satisfied with housemaid’s work？” i answered by inviting him to acpany me on a general inspection of the result of my labours。 with some difficulty； i got him to make the tour of the house。 he just looked in at the doors i opened； and when he had wandered upstairs and downstairs； he said i must have gone through a great deal of fatigue and trouble to have effected such considerable changes in so short a time： but not a syllable did he utter indicating pleasure in the improved aspect of his abode。
this silence damped me。 i thought perhaps the alterations had disturbed some old associations he valued。 i inquired whether this was the case： no doubt in a somewhat crest…fallen tone。
“not at all； he had； on the contrary； remarked that i had scrupulously respected every association： he feared； indeed； i must have bestowed more thought on the matter than it was worth。 how many minutes； for instance； had i devoted to studying the arrangement of this very room？—by…the…bye； could i tell him where such a book was？”
i showed him the volume on the shelf： he took it down； and withdrawing to his accustomed window recess； he began to read it。
now； i did not like this； reader。 st。 john was a good man； but i began to feel he had spoken truth of himself when he said he was hard and cold。 the humanities and amenities of life had no attraction for him—its peaceful enjoyments no charm。 literally； he lived only to aspire—after what was good and great； certainly； but still he would never rest； nor approve of others resting round him。 as i looked at his lofty forehead； still and pale as a white stone— at his fine lineaments fixed in study—i prehended all at once that he would hardly make a good husband： that it would be a trying thing to be his wife。 i understood； as by inspiration； the nature of his love for miss oliver； i agreed with him that it was but a love of the senses。 i prehended how he should despise himself for the feverish influence it exercised over him； how he should wish to stifle and destroy it； how he should mistrust its ever conducting permanently to his happiness or hers。 i saw he was of the material from which nature hews her heroes—christian and pagan—her lawgivers； her statesmen； her conquerors： a steadfast bulwark for great interests to rest upon； but； at the fireside； too often a cold cumbrous column； gloomy and out of place。
“this parlour is not his sphere；” i reflected： “the himalayan ridge or caffre bush； even the plague…cursed guinea coast swamp would suit him better。 well may he eschew the calm of domestic life； it is not his element： there his faculties stagnate—they cannot develop or appear to advantage。 it is in scenes of strife and danger—where courage is proved； and energy exercised； and fortitude tasked—that he will speak and move； the leader and superior。 a merry child would have the advantage of him on this hearth。 he is right to choose a missionary’s career—i see it now。”
“they are ing！ they are ing！” cried hannah； throwing open the parlour door。 at the same moment old carlo barked joyfully。 out i ran。 it was now dark； but a rumbling of wheels was audible。 hannah soon had a lantern