CHAPTER XIII. THE PRIMROSES

ature:anactofkindness,whichIcouldnotrepay,butnevershouldforget:soutterlyunaccustomedwasItoreceivesuchcivilities,solittlepreparedtoexpectthemfromanyonewithinfiftymilesofHortonLodge.YetthisdidnotpreventmefromfeelingalittleuncomfortableinhispresenceandIproceededtofollowmypupilsatamuchquickerpacethanbeforethough,perhaps,ifMr.Westonhadtakenthehint,andletmepasswithoutanotherword,Imighthaverepeateditanhourafter:buthedidnot.Asomewhatrapidwalkformewasbutanordinarypaceforhim. “Youryoungladieshaveleftyoualone,”saidhe. “Yes,theyareoccupiedwithmoreagreeablecompany.” “Thendon’ttroubleyourselftoovertakethem.”Islackenedmypacebutnextmomentregrettedhavingdoneso:mycompaniondidnotspeakandIhadnothingintheworldtosay,andfearedhemightbeinthesamepredicament.Atlength,however,hebrokethepausebyasking,withacertainquietabruptnesspeculiartohimself,ifIlikedflowers. “Yesverymuch,”Ianswered,“wild-flowersespecially.” “Ilikewild-flowers,”saidhe“othersIdon’tcareabout,becauseIhavenoparticularassociationsconnectedwiththem—exceptoneortwo.Whatareyourfavouriteflowers?” “Primroses,bluebells,andheath-blossoms.” “Notviolets?” “Nobecause,asyousay,Ihavenoparticularassociationsconnectedwiththemfortherearenosweetvioletsamongthehillsandvalleysroundmyhome.” “Itmustbeagreatconsolationtoyoutohaveahome,MissGrey,”observedmycompanionafterashortpause:“howeverremote,orhoweverseldomvisited,stillitissomethingtolookto.” “ItissomuchthatIthinkIcouldnotlivewithoutit,”repliedI,withanenthusiasmofwhichIimmediatelyrepentedforIthoughtitmusthavesoundedessentiallysilly. “Oh,yes,youcould,”saidhe,withathoughtfulsmile.“Thetiesthatbindustolifearetougherthanyouimagine,orthananyonecanwhohasnotfelthowroughlytheymaybepulledwithoutbreaking.Youmightbemiserablewithoutahome,butevenyoucouldliveandnotsomiserablyasyousuppose.Thehumanheartislikeindia-rubberalittleswellsit,butagreatdealwillnotburstit.If‘littlemorethannothingwilldisturbit,littlelessthanallthingswillsuffice’tobreakit.Asintheoutermembersofourframe,thereisavitalpowerinherentinitselfthatstrengthensitagainstexternalviolence.Everyblowthatshakesitwillservetohardenitagainstafuturestrokeasconstantlabourthickenstheskinofthehand,andstrengthensitsmusclesinsteadofwastingthemaway:sothatadayofarduoustoil,thatmightexcoriatealady’spalm,wouldmakenosensibleimpression