then ran straight for then they up the coast to and on to the west indies richard never went ashore cousin only once or twice but they about in the everlasting summer of fringed with palms and low dim red houses � just it all the colour and lights and beauty and far of it � and then when the fancy took them got up steam and slipped out again to sea and the name of the is the that s in the picture isn t it paused she leaned forward her chin in her hands her elbows on her knees she looked up at john and there was a singular expression in her clear and serious eyes i used to pity cousin she said i used to break my heart over her and now � now upon my word i believe i envy her � and see here dr she has asked me to go on to from here it seems that though richard refuses to see anyone except you of course and march he at his mother being so much alone what ought i to do i feel rather uncertain i have fought him i i have we have never been friends he and i he doesn t like me he s no reason to like me � anything but what do you say shall i refuse or shall i go and the doctor reflected a little drawing his great square hand down over his mouth and heavy chin the new heaven and new earth yes go he answered go and chance it your being at may work out in more of good than we now know chapter v telling how came to a certain of black ribbon yet as those grey weeks went on to christmas and the coming of the new year it became there was that in the aspect of affairs at which might very well provoke curious comment for the of richard s self imposed seclusion to which miss st had made allusion in her conversation with dr was not relaxed rather indeed did it threaten to pass from the accident of a first return after long absence and illness into a matter of fixed and accepted habit for those years of lonely wandering and rage of living finding their climax in deepening disappointment and the shock of rudely inflicted insult and disgrace had produced in richard a profound sense of from society and from the of ordinary intercourse since he was apparently doomed to survive he would go home but go home very much as some or wounded beast back to hide in its he was master in his own house at least and safe from intrusion there the place offered the silent sympathy of things familiar and therefore in a sense it is to look on that upon which one has already looked a thousand times and so after his reconciliation with his mother followed in natural his reconciliation with here he would see only those who loved him well enough � in their several stations and degrees � to respect his humour to ask no questions to leave him to himself richard was gentle in manner at this period courteous humorous even but a great was upon him it seemed as though some string had snapped leaving half his nature broken and dumb he had no no desire of sport and business were as little to his mind as society more than this � at first the excuse of fatigue had served him but very soon it came to be a admitted fact that richard did not leave the house surely it was enough he said to afford space for all the exercise he needed refusing to sir richard his old of rooms on the ground floor he had sent orders before his arrival that the smaller library adjoining the long gallery should be converted into a bed chamber for him it had been richard s practice when on board ship to steady his uncertain footsteps on the slippery or plane of the deck by the use of and this practice he in great measure retained it increased his poor powers of it rendered him more independent sometimes when secure that lady would not receive visitors he would make his way by the large library the state drawing room and to the chapel room and sit with her there but more often his days were spent exclusively in the long gallery he had brought home many curious and beautiful objects from his wanderings he would add these to the existing collection he would examine the books too procure such volumes as were needed to complete any imperfect series and in the of science literature and travel bring the library up to date he would devote his leisure to the study of various subjects � specially natural science � regarding which he was conscious of a knowledge deficient or merely i really am perfectly contented mother he said to lady more than once look at the length and breadth of the gallery it is as a city of magnificent distances after the deck of the dear old and my twelve foot cabin and fm not a man calculated to occupy so very much space after all let me about here with my books and my don t worry about me i shall keep quite well i promise you let me peacefully the spring anyhow i have plenty of occupation is going to the library catalogue with me and there are those of deeds and order books and which really ought to be looked over as it appears pretty certain i shall be the last of the family it would be only civil i think to bestow a little of my ample leisure upon my forefathers and set down some more or less comprehensive account of them and their doings they ear to have been given to rather dramatic adventures � don t 