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that ought to suffice for me no doubt. I suppose I should now entertain none but fatherly feelings for you: do you think so? Cometell me. I will think what you like, sir: I am content to be only your nurse, if you think it better. But you cannot always be my nurse, Janet: you are youngyou must marry one day. I dont care about being married. You should care, Janet: if I were what I once was, I would try to make you carebuta sightless block! He relapsed again into gloom. I, on the contrary, became more cheerful, and took fresh courage: these last words gave me an insight as to where the difficulty lay; and as it was no difficulty with me, I felt quite relieved from my previous embarrassment. I resumed a livelier vein of conversation. It is time some one undertook to rehumanise you, said I, parting his thick and long uncut locks; for I see you are being metamorphosed into a lion, or something of that sort. You have a faux air of Nebuchadnezzar in the fields about you, that is certain: your hair reminds me of eagles feathers; whether your nails are grown like birds claws or not, I have not yet noticed. On this arm, I have neither hand nor nails, he said, drawing the mutilated limb from his breast, and showing it to me. It is a mere stumpa ghastly sight! Dont you think so, Jane? It is a pity to see it; and a pity to see your eyesand the scar of fire on your forehead: and the worst of it is, one is in danger of loving you too well for all this; and making too much of you. I thought you would be revolted, Jane, when you saw my arm, and my cicatrised visage. Did you? Dont tell me solest I should say something disparaging to your judgment. Now, let me leave you an instant, to make a better fire, and have the hearth swept up. Can you tell when there is a good fire? Yes; with the right eye I see a glowa ruddy haze. And you see the candles? Very dimlyeach is a luminous cloud. Can you see me? No, my fairy: but I am only too thankful to hear and feel you. When do you take supper? I never take supper. But you shall have some to-night. I am hungry: so are you, I daresay, only you forget. Summoning Mary, I soon had the room in more cheerful order: I prepared him, likewise, a comfortable repast. My spirits were excited, and with pleasure and ease I talked to him during supper, and for a long time after. There was no harassing restraint, no repressing of glee and vivacity with him; for with him I was at perfect ease, because I knew I suited him; all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him. Delightful consciousness! It brought to life and light my whole nature: in his presence I thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine. Blind as he was, smiles played over his face, joy dawned on his forehead: his lineaments softened and warmed. |
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