madeamistakeieringtheministry:itsuniformdutiesweariedmetodeath.Iburntforthemoreactivelifeoftheworld—forthemoreexgtoilsofaliterarycareer—forthedestinyofanartist,author,orator;anythingratherthanthatofapriest:yes,theheartofapoliti,ofasoldier,ofavlory,aloverofrenown,alusterafterpower,beatundermycurate’ssurplice.Isidered;mylifewassowretched,itmustbeged,orImustdie.Afteraseasonofdarknessandstruggling,lightbrokeandrelieffell:mycrampedexistenceallatoncespreadouttoaplainwithoutbounds—mypowersheardacallfromheaventorise,gathertheirfullstrength,spreadtheirwings,andmountbeyondken.Godhadanerrandforme;tobearwhichafar,todeliveritwell,skillandstrength,ceandeloquehebestqualificationsofsoldier,statesman,andorator,wereallneeded:forthesealltreinthegoodmissionary.

    “AmissionaryIresolvedtobe.Fromthatmomentmystateofmindged;thefettersdissolvedanddroppedfromeveryfaculty,leavingnothingofboitsgallingsoreness—whichtimeonlyheal.Myfather,indeed,imposedthedetermination,butsincehisdeath,Ihavenotalegitimateobstacletotendwith;someaffairssettled,asuccessorforMortonprovided,aaortwoofthefeelingsbrokenthroughorcutasunder—alastflictwithhumanweakness,inwhiowIshallovere,becauseIhavevowedthatIwillovere—andIleaveEuropefortheEast.”

    Hesaidthis,inhispeculiar,subdued,yetemphaticvoice;looking,whenhehadceasedspeaking,notatme,butatthesettingsun,atwhichIlookedtoo.BothheandIhadourbackstowardsthepathleadingupthefieldtothewicket.Wehadheardhatgrass-growntrack;thewaterrunninginthevalewastheonelullingsoundofthehourandse;