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have an affectionate heart and a generous spirit, which prompt you
to make sacrifices for those you pity), and that ought to suffice
for me no doubt. I suppose I should now entertain none but fatherly
feelings for you: do you think so? Come- tell 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 young- you
must marry one day.'
'I don't care about being married.'
'You should care, Janet: if I were what I once was, I would try
to make you care- but- a 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 stump- a ghastly sight! Don't you think so, Jane?'
'It is a pity to see it; and a pity to see your eyes- and 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? Don't tell me so- lest 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 glow- a ruddy haze.'
'And you see the candles?'
'Very dimly- each 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