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He will never love me; but he shall approve me; I will show him energies he has not yet seen, resources he has never suspected.

Yes, I can work as hard as he can, and with as little grudging.

"Consent, then, to his demand is possible: but for one item-one dreadful item.

It is-that he asks me to be his wife, and has no more of a husband's heart for me than that frowning giant of a rock, down which the stream is foaming in yonder gorge.

He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all.

Unmarried to him, this would never grieve me; but can I let him complete his calculations-coolly put into practice his plans-go through the wedding ceremony? Can I receive from him the bridal ring, endure all the forms of love (which I doubt not he would scrupulously observe) and know that the spirit was quite absent? Can I bear the consciousness that every endearment he bestows is a sacrifice made on principle? No: such a martyrdom would be monstrous.

I will never undergo it.

As his sister, I might accompany him-not as his wife: I will tell him so."

I looked towards the knoll: there he lay, still as a prostrate column; his face turned to me: his eye beaming watchful and keen. He started to his feet and approached me.

"I am ready to go to India, if I may go free."

"Your answer requires a commentary," he said; "it is not clear."

"You have hitherto been my adopted brother-I, your adopted sister: let us continue as such: you and I had better not marry."

He shook his head.

"Adopted fraternity will not do in this case.

If you were my real sister it would be different: I should take you, and seek no wife.

But as it is, either our union must be consecrated and sealed by marriage, or it cannot exist: practical obstacles oppose themselves to any other plan.

Do you not see it, Jane? Consider a moment-your strong sense will guide you."

I did consider; and still my sense, such as it was, directed me only to the fact that we did not love each other as man and wife should: and therefore it inferred we ought not to marry. I said so. "St. John," I returned, "I regard you as a brother-you, me as a sister: so let us continue."

"We cannot-we cannot," he answered, with short, sharp determination: "it would not do. You have said you will go with me to India: remember-you have said that."

"Conditionally."

"Well-well.

To the main point-the departure with me from England, the co-operation with me in my future labours-you do not object.

You have already as good as put your hand to the plough: you are too consistent to withdraw it.

You have but one end to keep in view-how the work you have undertaken can best be done.

Simplify your complicated interests, feelings, thoughts, wishes, aims; merge all considerations in one purpose: that of fulfilling with effect-with power-the mission of your great Master.

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