|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
 |
||||
|
Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
||||
|
|
||||
|
361 in another feelings and views in which it has no power to sympathise: in short, as a man, he would have wished to coerce me into obedience: it was only as a sincere Christian he bore so patiently with my perversity, and allowed so long a space for reflection and repentance. That night, after he had kissed his sisters, he thought proper to forget even to shake hands with me, but left the room in silence. I- who, though I had no love, had much friendship for him-was hurt by the marked omission: so much hurt that tears started to my eyes. ‘I see you and St. John have been quarrelling, Jane,’ said Diana, ‘during your walk on the moor. But go after him; he is now lingering in the passage expecting you-he will make it up.’ I have not much pride under such circumstances: I would always rather be happy than dignified; and I ran after him-he stood at the foot of the stairs. ‘Good-night, St. John,’ said I. ‘Good-night, Jane,’ he replied calmly. ‘Then shake hands,’ I added. What a cold, loose touch he impressed on my fingers! He was deeply displeased by what had occurred that day; cordiality would not warm, nor tears move him. No happy reconciliation was to be had with him-no cheering smile or generous word: but still the Christian was patient and placid; and when I asked him if he forgave me, he answered that he was not in the habit of cherishing the remembrance of vexation; that he had nothing to forgive, not having been offended. And with that answer he left me. I would much rather he had knocked me down. |
