PART FOUR - LIFE AT MOOR HOUSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
St. John's Secret

"It's very nice to hear you say these things," he said. He was not upset by my words. "I will let myself think about her for fifteen minutes." And he put his watch on the table and sat down, closing his eyes. "Married to the lovely Rosamund Oliver! Let me just imagine it! My heart is full of happiness!" And there was silence for fifteen minutes while he thought about her. [-----1-----].

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I can't marry her. You see, Jane, although I love her, I know that Rosamund would not make a good wife for a missionary. She would not be happy in this work."

"But you don't have to become a missionary!" I said.

"Yes, I do. [-----2-----]! I will teach the Eastern people about the Christian religion, peace, and freedom. This is what I live and die for!"

"But what about Miss Oliver?" I asked. "She may be so unhappy if you leave."
"Jane, Miss Oliver will forget me in a month. I know this about her. She will marry someone who can make her much happier than I could."

"St. John, you speak calmly, but I know you're hurting."

"You are right," he said. "But believe me, I will never marry her. I will only serve God." As he picked up his hat before leaving, he looked at the drawing of Miss Oliver once more. Suddenly he stared at me, and then tore off a tiny piece of the drawing very quickly. With a "goodbye!" he ran out of the house. [-----3-----].

Vocabulary Focus

make a good wife:是一个好妻子。