lbent,Iamatriteonplaner,haeyedinallthepoorpettydissipationswithwhichtheridworthlesstrytoputonlife.DoyouwohatIavowthistoyou?Know,thatinthecourseofyourfuturelifeyouwilloftenfindyourselfelectedtheinvoluntaryfidantofyouracquaintances’secrets:peoplewillinstinctivelyfindout,asIhavedohatitisnotyourfortetotellofyourself,buttolistenwhileotherstalkofthemselves;theywillfeel,too,thatyoulistenwithnomalevolentsoftheirindiscretion,butwithakindofinnatesympathy;notthelessfandencingbecauseitisveryunobtrusiveinitsmaions.”

    “Howdoyouknow?—howyouguessallthis,sir?”

    “Iknowitwell;thereforeIproceedalmostasfreelyasifIwerewritingmythoughtsinadiary.Youwouldsay,Ishouldhavebeensuperiortocircumstances;soIshould—soIshould;butyouseeIwasnot.Whenfatewrongedme,Ihadnotthewisdomtoremaincool:Iturneddesperate;thenIdegeed.Now,whenanyvicioussimpletoesmydisgustbyhispaltryribaldry,IotflattermyselfthatIambetterthanhe:IamforcedtofessthatheandIareonalevel.IwishIhadstoodknowsIdo!Dreadremorsewhenyouaretemptedtoerr,MissEyre;remorseisthepoisonoflife.”

    “Repentanceissaidtobeitscure,sir.”

    “Itisnotitscure.Reformationmaybeitscure;andIcouldreform—Ihavestrengthyetforthat—if—butwhereistheuseofthinkingofit,hampered,burdened,cursedasIam?Besides,sincehappinessisirrevocablydeniedme,Ihavearighttogetpleasureoutoflife:andIwillgetit,costwhatitmay.”

    “Thenyouwilldegeestillmore,sir.”

    “Possibly:yetwhyshouldI,ifIgetsweet,freshpleasure?AndImaygetitassweetandfreshasthewildhohebeegathersonthemoor.”

    “It