eproportionofhistimeappeareddevotedtovisitingthesidpooramoteredpopulationofhisparish.

    herseemedtohinderhiminthesepastoralexcursions:rainorfair,hewould,whenhishoursstudywereover,takehishat,and,followedbyhisfather’soldpointer,Carlo,gooutonhismissionofloveorduty—Iscarcelyknowinwhichlightheregardedit.Sometimes,whenthedaywasveryunfavourable,hissisterswouldexpostulate.Hewouldthensay,eculiarsmile,moresolemnthancheerful—

    “AndifIletagustofwindorasprinklingofrainturnmeasidefromtheseeasytasks,reparationwouldsuchslothbeforthefutureIproposetomyself?”

    DianaandMary’sgeneralahisquestionwasasigh,andsomeminutesofapparentlymournfulmeditation.

    Butbesideshisfrequentabseherewasanotherbarriertofriendshipwithhim:heseemedofareserved,anabstracted,andevenofabroodingnature.Zealousinhisministeriallabours,blamelessinhislifeandhabits,heyetdidnotappeartoenjoythatmentalserenity,thatinwardtent,whichshouldbetherewardofeverysincereChristianandpracticalphilanthropist.Often,ofanevening,wheatthewindow,hisdeskandpapersbeforehim,hewouldceasereadingorwritihisonhishand,anddeliverhimselfuptoIknownotwhatcourseofthought;butthatiterturbedaingmightbeseeninthefrequentflashandgefuldilationofhiseye.

    Ithink,moreover,thatNaturewasnottohimthattreasuryofdelightitwastohissisters.Heexpressedondbutonmyhearing,astrongseheruggedcharmofthehills,andaninborionforthedarkroofandhoarywallshecalledhishome;buttherewasmloomthanpleasureioneandwordsinwhichthesewasmaed;andneverdidheseemtoroamthemoorsforthesakeof