CHAPTERXIV174
Hesaidthisasifhespoketoavision,viewlesstoanyeyebuthisown;then,foldinghisarms,whichhehadhalfextended,onhischest,heseemedtoencloseintheirembracetheinvisiblebeing.
"Now,"hecontinued,againaddressingme,"Ihavereceivedthepilgrim--adisguiseddeity,asIverilybelieve.Alreadyithasdonemegood:myheartwasasortofcharnel;itwillnowbeashrine."
"Tospeaktruth,sir,Idon'tunderstandyouatall:Icannotkeepuptheconversation,becauseithasgotoutofmydepth.Onlyonething,Iknow:yousaidyouwerenotasgoodasyoushouldliketobe,andthatyouregrettedyourownimperfection;--onethingIcancomprehend:youintimatedthattohaveasulliedmemorywasaperpetualbane.Itseemstome,thatifyoutriedhard,youwouldintimefinditpossibletobecomewhatyouyourselfwouldapprove;andthatiffromthisdayyoubeganwithresolutiontocorrectyourthoughtsandactions,youwouldinafewyearshavelaidupanewandstainlessstoreofrecollections,towhichyoumightrevertwithpleasure."
"Justlythought;rightlysaid,MissEyre;and,atthismoment,Iampavinghellwithenergy."
"Sir?"
"Iamlayingdowngoodintentions,whichIbelievedurableasflint.Certainly,myassociatesandpursuitsshallbeotherthantheyhavebeen."
"Andbetter?"
"Andbetter--somuchbetteraspureoreisthanfouldross.Youseemtodoubtme;Idon'tdoubtmyself:Iknowwhatmyaimis,whatmymotivesare;andatthismomentIpassalaw,unalterableasthatoftheMedesandPersians,thatbothareright."
"Theycannotbe,sir,iftheyrequireanewstatutetolegalisethem."