yourfurniture—havedisappointedyourexpectations?Theyare,intruth,styenough;but—”Iinterrupted—

    “Mycottageisaher-proof;myfurnituresuffitandodious.AllIseehasmademethankful,notdespo.Iamnotabsolutelysuchafoolandsensualistastrettheabsenceofacarpet,asofa,andsilverplate;besides,fiveweeksagoIhadnothing—Iwasanoutcast,abeggar,avagrant;nowIhaveacquaintance,ahome,abusiness.IwohegoodnessofGod;thegenerosityofmyfriends;thebountyofmylot.Idonotrepine.”

    “Butyoufeelsolitudeanoppressiolehousetherebehindyouisdarkay.”

    “Ihavehardlyhadtimeyettoenjoyaseranquillity,muchlesstogrowimpatientunderoneofloneliness.”

    “Verywell;Ihopeyoufeelthetentyouexpress:atanyrate,yoodsensewilltellyouthatitistoosoooyieldtothevacillatingfearsofLot’swife.WhatyouhadleftbeforeIsawyou,ofcourseIdonotknow;butIselyoutoresistfirmlyeverytemptationwhichwouldineyoutolookback:pursueyourpresentcareersteadily,forsomemonthsatleast.”

    “ItiswhatImeantodo,”Ianswered.St.Johntinued—

    “Itishardworktotrolthewsofinationandturofnature;butthatitmaybedone,Iknowfromexperience.Godhasgivenus,inameasure,thepowertomakeourownfate;andwhenourenergiesseemtodemandasusteheyotget—whenourwillstrainsafterapathwemaynotfollow—weneedherstarvefrominanition,norstandstillindespair:wehavebuttoseekanothernourishmentforthemind,asstrongastheforbiddenfooditloaste—andperhapspurer;andtohewoutfortheadventurousfootaroadasdiredbroadastheounehasblockedupagainstus,ifrougherthanit.

    “AyearagoIwasmyselfintenselymiserable,becauseIthoughtIhad