hasbeensaidthatthegreateventsoftheworldtakeplathebrain.Itisinthebrain,andthebrainonly,thatthegreatsinsoftheworldtakeplacealso.Yray,youyourself,withyourrose-redyouthandyourrose-whiteboyhood,youhavehadpassionsthathavemadeyouafraid,thoughtsthathavefinedyouwithterror,day-dreamsandsleepingdreamswhosemerememhtstainyourcheekwithshame--"

    "Stop!"falteredDray,"stop!youbewilderme.Idontknowwhattosay.Thereissomeaoyou,butIotfindit.Dontspeak.Letmethink.Or,rather,letmetrynottothink."

    Fornearlytenminuteshestoodthere,motionless,withpartedlipsarangelybright.Hewasdimlysciousthatentirelyfreshinfluenceswereatworkwithinhim.Yettheyseemedtohimtohaveereallyfromhimself.ThefewwordsthatBasilsfriendhadsaidtohim--wordsspokenbyodoubt,andwithwilfulparadoxinthem--hadtouchedsomesecretchordthathadneverbeentouchedbefore,butthathefeltwasnowvibratingandthrobbingtocuriouspulses.

    Musichadstirredhimlikethat.Musichadtroubledhimmanytimes.Butmusiotarticulate.Itwasnotanewworld,butratheranotherchaos,thatitcreatedinus.Words!Merewords!Howterribletheywere!Howclear,andvivid,andcruel!Onecouldnotescapefromthem.Awhatasubtlemagictherewasiheyseemedtobeabletogiveaplastitoformlessthings,andtohaveamusicoftheirownassweetasthatofvioloroflute.Merewords!Wasthereanythingsorealaswords?

    Yes;therehadbeenthingsinhisboyhoodthathehadnotuood.Heuoodthemnow.Lifesuddenlybecamefiery-colouredtohim.Itseemedtohimthathehadbeenwalkinginfire.Whyhadhenotknownit?

    Withhissubtlesmile,LordHenrywatched