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and admiration. Of course in reading anything
so noble and great my first thought was of him
who could appreciate it so thoroughly. Of course
too, as I read, I fancied a strong resemblance
between my hero and the subject of Tennyson’s
lament. Consequently, ‘In Memoriam’ was one
of our first themes of conversation after we met
again, and we agreed to go through it together.

‘“‘Some days in one’s life seem to begin and end
in gloom. I do not mean grief, but a sort of
mental gloom, matching the cloudy day of the
physical world on which nothing looks bright. On
such days jestings, however innocent, feel out of
place, and every train of thought, wherever begun,
ends in seriousness. On such a day my friend and
I sat down, late in the evening, to the study of
‘In Memoriam,’ he reading aloud by my request ;
my wish being to watch its effect upon his mind.

“And certainly the plan succeeded. At the
very first line of the introductory poem, he stopped
and hesitated. ,

‘ Strong Son of God, immortal Love——’

“ Flere he turned to me with an inquiring look.