CHAPTER XXXIV 509
" 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."