Part 51 (2/2)

Mrs Compton says she found me on the floor of my own room, and that I was in a kind of stupor I had no fever or deliriuestion of the brain Thoughts like ht well destroy the brain forever

For aI can noalk about the roo on in the house, and wish to know nothing Mrs Coot thus far, and will stop here I have been several days writing this I er

CHAPTER XXV

THE BYZANTINE HYMNISTS

More than a year had passed since that visit to Thornton Grange which has already been lected the melancholy case of the Brandon faone on frequent visits

On his return froe Mrs Thornton was sitting in the drawing-roo pensively out of the hen she saw his well-known figure advancing up the avenue His face was sad, and pervaded by a melancholy expression, which was noticeable now as he walked along

But when he cahted up with the most radiant joy Mrs Thornton advanced to ht to say, welcoain,” said she, with forced liveliness, ”but you may have been in Holby a week for all I know When did you co yourself in your study instead of paying your respects in the proper quarter”

Despard s It is now three PM by my watch Shall I say how impatiently I have waited till three o'clock should coine all that you would say But telllike an evil spirit, seeking rest and finding none”

”Have you been to London again?”

”Where have I not been?”

By this time they had seated themselves

”My last journey,” said Despard, ”like my former ones, was, of course, about the Brandon affair You know that I have had long conversations with Mr Thornton about it, and he insists that nothing whatever can be done But you know, also, that I could not sit down idly and calmly under this conviction I have feltEvery day I have felt as if I had shared in the infa man That was the reason why I wrote to Australia to see if the Brandon as droas really the one I supposed I heard, you know, that he was the same man, and there is no doubt about that Then you know, as I told you, that I went around a could be done Nearly all asserted that no redress was possible That is what Mr Thornton said

There was one who said that if I were rich enough I in a prosecution, but as I alad, no doubt, to have undertaken such a task”

”What is there in law that so hardens the heart?” said Mrs Thornton, after a pause ”Why should it kill all sentiment, and destroy so utterly all the more spiritual qualities?”

”I don't think that the law does this necessarily It depends after all on the man himself If I were a lawyer, I should still love s”

”But did you ever know a laho loved h of theland music is not loved so devotedly as in other countries Is it inconceivable that an Italian lawyer should love music?”

”I don't kno is abhorrent to me It seems to be a profession that kills the finer sentiments”

”Why so, more than medicine? The fact is where ordinary men are concerned any scientific profession renders Art distasteful At least this is so in England After all, most depends on the man himself, and, one who is born with a keen sensibility to the charh life, whatever his profession may be

”But suppose the man himself has neither taste, nor sensibility, nor any appreciation of the beautiful, nor any sys, what then?”

Mrs Thornton spoke earnestly as she asked this