第152章

第152章“andsinceiammyselfpoorandobscure,icanofferyoubutaserviceofpovertyandobscurity.youmayeventhinkitdegrading—foriseenowyourhabitshavebeenwhattheworldcallsrefined:yourtastesleantotheideal,andyoursocietyhasatleastbeenamongsttheeducated;buticonsiderthatnoservicedegradeswhichcanbetterourrace.iholdthatthemorearidandunreclaimedthesoilwherethechristianlabourer’staskoftillageisappointedhim—thescantierthemeedhistoilbrings—thehigherthehonour.his,undersuchcircumstances,isthedestinyofthepioneer;andthefirstpioneersofthegospelweretheapostles—theircaptainwasjesus,theredeemer,himself.”

“well?”isaid,asheagainpaused—“proceed.”

helookedatmebeforeheproceeded:indeed,heseemedleisurelytoreadmyface,asifitsfeaturesandlineswerecharactersonapage.theconclusionsdrawnfromthisscrutinyhepartiallyexpressedinhiseedingobservations.

“ibelieveyouwillacceptthepostiofferyou,”saidhe,“andholditforawhile:notpermanently,though:anymorethanicouldpermanentlykeepthenarrowandnarrowing—thetranquil,hiddenofficeofenglishcountryincumbent;forinyournatureisanalloyasdetrimentaltoreposeasthatinmine,thoughofadifferentkind.”

“doexplain,”iurged,whenhehaltedoncemore.

“iwill;andyoushallhearhowpoortheproposalis,—howtrivial—howcramping.ishallnotstaylongatmorton,nowthatmyfatherisdead,andthatiammyownmaster.ishallleavetheplaceprobablyinthecourseofatwelve-month;butwhileidostay,iwillexertmyselftotheutmostforitsimprovement.morton,whenicametoittwoyearsago,hadnoschool:thechildrenofthepoorwereexcludedfromeveryhopeofprogress.iestablishedoneforboys:imeannowtoopenasecondschoolforgirls.ihavehiredabuildingforthepurpose,withacottageoftworoomsattachedtoitforthemistress’shouse.hersalarywillbethirtypoundsayear:herhouseisalreadyfurnished,verysimply,butsufficiently,bythekindnessofalady,missoliver;theonlydaughterofthesolerichmaninmyparish—mr.oliver,theproprietorofaneedle-factoryandiron-foundryinthevalley.thesameladypaysfortheeducationandclothingofanorphanfromtheworkhouse,onconditionthatsheshallaidthemistressinsuchmenialofficesconnectedwithherownhouseandtheschoolasheroccupationofteachingwillpreventherhavingtimetodischargeinperson.willyoubethismistress?”

heputthequestionratherhurriedly;heseemedhalftoexpectanindignant,oratleastadisdainfulrejectionoftheoffer:notknowingallmythoughtsandfeelings,thoughguessingsome,hecouldnottellinwhatlightthelotwouldappeartome.intruthitwashumble—butthenitwassheltered,andiwantedasafeasylum:itwasplodding—butthen,comparedwiththatofagovernessinarichhouse,itwasindependent;andthefearofservitudewithstrangersenteredmysoullikeiron:itwasnotignoble—notunworthy—notmentallydegrading,imademydecision.

“ithankyoufortheproposal,mr.rivers,andiacceptitwithallmyheart.”

“butyoucomprehendme?”hesaid.“itisavillageschool:yourscholarswillbeonlypoorgirls—cottagers’children—atthebest,farmers’daughters.knitting,sewing,reading,writing,ciphering,willbeallyouwillhavetoteach.whatwillyoudowithyouraccomplishments?what,withthelargestportionofyourmind—sentiments—tastes?”

“savethemtilltheyarewanted.theywillkeep.”

“youknowwhatyouundertake,then?”

“ido.”

henowsmiled:andnotabitterorasadsmile,butonewellpleasedanddeeplygratified.

“andwhenwillyoucommencetheexerciseofyourfunction?”“iwillgotomyhouseto-morrow,andopentheschool,ifyoulike,nextweek.”

“verywell:sobeit.”

heroseandwalkedthroughtheroom.standingstill,heagainlookedatme.heshookhishead.

“whatdoyoudisapproveof,mr.rivers?”iasked.

“youwillnotstayatmortonlong:no,no!”

“why?whatisyourreasonforsayingso?”

“ireaditinyoureye;itisnotofthatdescriptionwhichpromisesthemaintenanceofaneventenorinlife.”

“iamnotambitious.”

hestartedattheword“ambitious.”herepeated,“no.whatmadeyouthinkofambition?whoisambitious?iknowiam:buthowdidyoufinditout?”

“iwasspeakingofmyself.”

“well,ifyouarenotambitious,youare—”hepaused.

“what?”