CHAPTER XXIII

eath,wasbound Mythrobbingforeheadon. Lowatmymaster’skneeIbent, Theofferedcrowntomeet Itsgreenleavesthroughmytemplessent Athrillaswildassweet. ThestrongpulseofAmbitionstruck IneveryveinIowned Atthesameinstant,bleedingbroke Asecret,inwardwound. Thehouroftriumphwastome Thehourofsorrowsore AdayhenceImustcrossthesea, Ne’ertorecrossitmore. Anhourhence,inmymaster’sroom Iwithhimsatalone, Andtoldhimwhatadrearygloom O’erjoyhadpartingthrown. Helittlesaidthetimewasbrief, Theshipwassoontosail, AndwhileIsobbedinbittergrief, Mymasterbutlookedpale. Theycalledinhastehebademego, Thensnatchedmebackagain Heheldmefastandmurmuredlow, “Whywilltheypartus,Jane?” “Wereyounothappyinmycare? DidInotfaithfulprove? Willotherstomydarlingbear Astrue,asdeepalove? “OGod,watcho’ermyfosterchild! Oguardhergentlehead! Whenmindsarehighandtempestswild Protectionroundherspread! “Theycallagainleavethenmybreast Quitthytrueshelter,Jane Butwhendeceived,repulsed,opprest, Comehometomeagain!” Iread—thendreamilymademarksonthemarginwithmypencilthinkingallthewhileofotherthingsthinkingthat“Jane”wasnowatmysidenochild,butagirlofnineteenandshemightbemine,somyheartaffirmedPoverty’scursewastakenoffmeEnvyandJealousywerefaraway,andunapprizedofthisourquietmeetingthefrostoftheMaster’smannermightmeltIfeltthethawcomingfast,whetherIwouldornotnofurtherneedfortheeyetopractiseahardlook,forthebrowtocompressitsexpanseintoasternfold:itwasnowpermittedtosuffertheoutwardrevelationoftheinwardglow—toseek,demand,elicitanansweringardour.Whilemusingthus,IthoughtthatthegrassonHermonneverdrankthefreshdewsofsunsetmoregratefullythanmyfeelingsdranktheblissofthishour. Francesrose,asifrestlessshepassedbeforemetostirthefire,whichdidnotwantstirringsheliftedandputdownthelittleornamentsonthemantelpieceherdresswavedwithinayardofmeslight,straight,andelegant,shestooderectonthehearth. Thereareimpulseswecancontrolbutthereareotherswhichcontrolus,becausetheyattainuswithatiger-leap,andareourmasterserewehaveseenthem.Perhaps,though,suchimpulsesareseldomaltogetherbadperhapsReason,byaprocessasbriefasquiet,aprocessthatisfinishederefelt,hasascertainedthesanityofthedeed.Instinctmeditates,andfeelsjustifiedinremainingpassivewhileitisperformed.IknowIdidnotreason,Ididnotplanorintend,yet,whereasonemomentIwassittingsolusonthechairnearthetable,thenext,IheldFrancesonmyknee,placedtherewithsharpnessanddecision,andretainedwithexceedingtenacity. “Monsieur!”criedFrances,andwasstill:notanotherwordescapedherlipssorelyconfoundedsheseemedduringthelapseofthefirstfewmomentsbuttheamazementsoonsubsidedterrordidnotsucceed,norfury:afterall,shewasonlyalittlenearerthanshehadeverbeenbefore,tooneshehabituallyrespectedandtrustedembarrassmentmighthaveimpelledhertocontend,butself-respectcheckedresistancewhereresistancewasuseless. “Frances,howmuchregardhaveyouforme?”wasmydemand.Noanswerthesituationwasyettoonewandsurprisingtopermitspeech.Onthisconsideration,Icompelledmyselfforsomesecondstotoleratehersilence,thoughimpatientofit:presently,Irepeatedthesamequestion—probably,notinthecalmestoftonesshelookedatmemyface,doubtless,wasnomodelofcomposure,myeyesnostillwellsoftranquillity. “Dospeak,”Iurgedandaverylow,hurried,yetstillarchvoicesaid— “Monsieur,vousmefaitesmaldegracelachezunpeumamaindroite.” IntruthIbecameawarethatIwasholdingthesaid“maindroite”inasomewhatruthlessgrasp:Ididasdesiredand,forthethirdtime,askedmoregently— “Frances,howmuchregardhaveyouforme?” “Monmaitre,j’enaibeaucoup,”wasthetruthfulrejoinder. “Frances,haveyouenoughtogiveyourselftomeasmywife?—toacceptmeasyourhusband?” Ifelttheagitationoftheheart,Isaw“thepurplelightoflove”castitsglowingreflectiononcheeks,temples,neckIdesiredtoconsulttheeye,butshelteringlashandlidforbade. “Monsieur,”saidthesoftvoiceatlast,—“Monsieurdesiresavoirsijeconsens—si—enfin,sijeveuxmemarieraveclui?” “Justement.” “Monsieursera-t-ilaussibonmariqu’ilaetebonmaitre?” “Iwilltry,Frances.” Apausethenwithanew,yetstillsubduedinflexionofthevoice—aninflexionwhichprovokedwhileitpleasedme—accompanied,too,bya“sourirealafoisfinettimide”inperfectharmonywiththetone:— “C’estadire,monsieurseratoujoursunpeuenteteexigeant,volontaire—?” “HaveIbeenso,Frances?” “Maisouivouslesavezbien.” “HaveIbeennothingelse?” “Maisouivousavezetemonmeilleurami.” “Andwhat,Frances,areyoutome?” “Votredevoueeeleve,quivousaimedetoutsoncoeur.” “Willmypupilconsenttopassherlifewithme?SpeakEngl