第158章

第158章andthenshewouldpoutlikeadisappointedchild；apensivecloudwouldsoftenherradiantvivacity；shewouldwithdrawherhandhastilyfromhis，andturnintransientpetulancefromhisaspect，atoncesoheroicandsomartyr-like.st.john，nodoubt，wouldhavegiventheworldtofollow，recall，retainher，whenshethuslefthim；buthewouldnotgiveonechanceofheaven，norrelinquish，fortheelysiumofherlove，onehopeofthetrue，eternalparadise.besides，hecouldnotbindallthathehadinhisnature—therover，theaspirant，thepoet，thepriest—inthelimitsofasinglepassion.hecouldnot—hewouldnot—renouncehiswildfieldofmissionwarfarefortheparloursandthepeaceofvalehall.ilearntsomuchfromhimselfinaninroadionce，despitehisreserve，hadthedaringtomakeonhisconfidence.

missoliveralreadyhonouredmewithfrequentvisitstomycottage.ihadlearntherwholecharacter，whichwaswithoutmysteryordisguise：shewascoquettishbutnotheartless；exacting，butnotworthlesslyselfish.shehadbeenindulgedfromherbirth，butwasnotabsolutelyspoilt.shewashasty，butgood-humoured；vain(shecouldnothelpit，wheneveryglanceintheglassshowedhersuchaflushofloveliness)，butnotaffected；liberal-handed；innocentoftheprideofwealth；ingenuous；sufficientlyintelligent；gay，lively，andunthinking：shewasverycharming，inshort，eventoacoolobserverofherownsexlikeme；butshewasnotprofoundlyinterestingorthoroughlyimpressive.averydifferentsortofmindwashersfromthat，forinstance，ofthesistersofst.john.still，ilikedheralmostasilikedmypupiladèle；exceptthat，forachildwhomwehavewatchedoverandtaught，acloseraffectionisengenderedthanwecangiveanequallyattractiveadultacquaintance.

shehadtakenanamiablecapricetome.shesaidiwaslikemr.rivers，only，certainly，sheallowed，“notone-tenthsohandsome，thoughiwasaniceneatlittlesoulenough，buthewasanangel.”iwas，however，good，clever，composed，andfirm，likehim.iwasalususnaturae，sheaffirmed，asavillageschoolmistress：shewassuremyprevioushistory，ifknown，wouldmakeadelightfulromance.

oneevening，while，withherusualchild-likeactivity，andthoughtlessyetnotoffensiveinquisitiveness，shewasrummagingthecupboardandthetable-drawerofmylittlekitchen，shediscoveredfirsttwofrenchbooks，avolumeofschiller，agermangrammaranddictionary，andthenmydrawing-materialsandsomesketches，includingapencil-headofaprettylittlecherub-likegirl，oneofmyscholars，andsundryviewsfromnature，takeninthevaleofmortonandonthesurroundingmoors.shewasfirsttransfixedwithsurprise，andthenelectrifiedwithdelight.

“hadidonethesepictures？didiknowfrenchandgerman？whatalove—whatamiracleiwas！idrewbetterthanhermasterinthefirstschoolins—.wouldisketchaportraitofher，toshowtopapa？”

“withpleasure，”ireplied；andifeltathrillofartist—delightattheideaofcopyingfromsoperfectandradiantamodel.shehadthenonadark-bluesilkdress；herarmsandherneckwerebare；heronlyornamentwasherchestnuttresses，whichwavedoverhershoulderswithallthewildgraceofnaturalcurls.itookasheetoffinecard-board，anddrewacarefuloutline.ipromisedmyselfthepleasureofcolouringit；and，asitwasgettinglatethen，itoldhershemustcomeandsitanotherday.

shemadesuchareportofmetoherfather，thatmr.oliverhimselfaccompaniedhernextevening—atall，massive-featured，middle-aged，andgrey-headedman，atwhosesidehislovelydaughterlookedlikeabrightflowernearahoaryturret.heappearedataciturn，andperhapsaproudpersonage；buthewasverykindtome.thesketchofrosamond’sportraitpleasedhimhighly：hesaidimustmakeafinishedpictureofit.heinsisted，too，onmycomingthenextdaytospendtheeveningatvalehall.

iwent.ifounditalarge，handsomeresidence，showingabundantevidencesofwealthintheproprietor.rosamondwasfullofgleeandpleasureallthetimeistayed.herfatherwasaffable；andwhenheenteredintoconversationwithmeaftertea，heexpressedinstrongtermshisapprobationofwhatihaddoneinmortonschool，andsaidheonlyfeared，fromwhathesawandheard，iwastoogoodfortheplace，andwouldsoonquititforonemoresuitable.

“indeed，”criedrosamond，“sheiscleverenoughtobeagovernessinahighfamily，papa.”

ithoughtiwouldfarratherbewhereiamthaninanyhighfamilyintheland.mr.oliverspokeofmr.rivers—oftheriversfamily—withgreatrespect.hesaiditwasaveryoldnameinthatneighbourhood；thattheancestorsofthehousewerewealthy；thatallmortonhadoncebelongedtothem；thatevennowheconsideredtherepresentativeofthathousemight，ifheliked，makeanalliancewiththebest.heaccounteditapitythatsofineandtalentedayoungmanshouldhaveformedthedesignofgoingoutasamissionary；itwasquitethrowingavaluablelifeaway.itappeared，then，thatherfatherwouldthrownoobstacleinthewayofrosamond’sunionwithst.john.mr.oliverevidentlyregardedtheyoungclergyman’sgoodbirth，oldname，andsacredprofessionassufficientcompensationforthewantoffortune.

itwasthe5thofnovember，andaholiday.mylittleservant，afterhelpingmetocleanmyhouse，wasgone，wellsatisfiedwiththefeeofapennyforheraid.allaboutmewasspotlessandbright—scouredfloor，polishedgrate，andwell-rubbedchairs.ihadalsomademyselfneat，andhadnowtheafternoonbeforemetospendasiwould.