CHAPTER XLII. FINIS.

dnoquestions,buttookthecashandmadeituseful. WiththishundredpoundsIventuredtotakethehouseadjoiningmine.IwouldnotleavethatwhichM.Paulhadchosen,inwhichhehadleft,andwhereheexpectedagaintofindme.Myexternatbecameapensionnatthatalsoprospered. Thesecretofmysuccessdidnotliesomuchinmyself,inanyendowment,anypowerofmine,asinanewstateofcircumstances,awonderfullychangedlife,arelievedheart.Thespringwhichmovedmyenergieslayfarawaybeyondseas,inanIndianisle.Atparting,Ihadbeenleftalegacysuchathoughtforthepresent,suchahopeforthefuture,suchamotiveforapersevering,alaborious,anenterprising,apatientandabravecourse—Icouldnotflag.Fewthingsshookmenowfewthingshadimportancetovex,intimidate,ordepressme:mostthingspleased—meretrifleshadacharm. Donotthinkthatthisgenialflamesustaineditself,orlivedwhollyonabequeathedhopeorapartingpromise.Agenerousprovidersuppliedbounteousfuel.Iwassparedallchill,allstintIwasnotsufferedtofearpenuryIwasnottriedwithsuspense.Byeveryvesselhewrotehewroteashegaveandasheloved,infull-handed,full-heartedplenitude.Hewrotebecausehelikedtowritehedidnotabridge,becausehecarednottoabridge.Hesatdown,hetookpenandpaper,becausehelovedLucyandhadmuchtosaytoherbecausehewasfaithfulandthoughtful,becausehewastenderandtrue.Therewasnoshamandnocheat,andnohollowunrealinhim.Apologyneverdroppedherslipperyoilonhislips—neverproffered,byhispen,hercowardfeintsandpaltrynullities:hewouldgiveneitherastone,noranexcuse—neitherascorpionnoradisappointmenthisletterswererealfoodthatnourished,livingwaterthatrefreshed.