CHAPTER XIII. THE PRIMROSES

onthatofahardyploughman. “Ispeakfromexperience—partlymyown.TherewasatimewhenIthoughtasyoudo—atleast,Iwasfullypersuadedthathomeanditsaffectionsweretheonlythingsthatmadelifetolerable:that,ifdeprivedofthese,existencewouldbecomeaburdenhardtobeenduredbutnowIhavenohome—unlessyouwoulddignifymytwohiredroomsatHortonbysuchaname—andnottwelvemonthsagoIlostthelastanddearestofmyearlyfriendsandyet,notonlyIlive,butIamnotwhollydestituteofhopeandcomfort,evenforthislife:thoughImustacknowledgethatIcanseldomenterevenanhumblecottageatthecloseofday,andseeitsinhabitantspeaceablygatheredaroundtheircheerfulhearth,withoutafeelingalmostofenvyattheirdomesticenjoyment.” “Youdon’tknowwhathappinessliesbeforeyouyet,”saidI:“youarenowonlyinthecommencementofyourjourney.” “Thebestofhappiness,”repliedhe,“isminealready—thepowerandthewilltobeuseful.” Wenowapproachedastilecommunicatingwithafootpaththatconductedtoafarm-house,where,Isuppose,Mr.Westonpurposedtomakehimself“useful”forhepresentlytookleaveofme,crossedthestile,andtraversedthepathwithhisusualfirm,elastictread,leavingmetoponderhiswordsasIcontinuedmycoursealone.Ihadheardbeforethathehadlosthismothernotmanymonthsbeforehecame.Shethenwasthelastanddearestofhisearlyfriendsandhehadnohome.Ipitiedhimfrommyheart:Ialmostweptforsympathy.Andthis,Ithought,accountedfortheshadeofprematurethoughtfulnessthatsofrequentlycloudedhisbrow,andobtainedforhimthereputationofamoroseandsullendispositionwiththecharitableMissMurrayandallherkin.“But,”thoughtI,“heisnotsomiserableasIshouldbeundersuchadeprivation:heleadsanactivelifeandawidefieldforusefulexertionliesbeforehim.Hecanmakefriendsandhecanmakeahometoo,ifhepleasesand,doubtless,hewillpleasesometime.Godgrantthepartnerofthathomemaybeworthyofhischoice,andmakeitahappyone—suchahomeashedeservestohave!Andhowdelightfulitwouldbeto—”ButnomatterwhatIthought. Ibeganthisbookwiththeintentionofconcealingnothingthatthosewholikedmighthavethebenefitofperusingafellow-creature’sheart:butwehavesomethoughtsthatalltheangelsinheavenarewelcometobehold,butnotourbrother-men—noteventhebestandkindestamongstthem. BythistimetheGreenshadtakenthemselvestotheirownabode,andtheMurrayshadturneddowntheprivateroad,whitherIhastenedtofollowthem.Ifoundthetwogirlswarminananimateddiscussionontherespectivemeritsofthetwoyoungofficersbutonsee