jew but at some inadequate hotel in or i moved from her seat her fair brows with what do you mean i thought you could steer anywhere even in the strongest wind his smile became more bland so i can � on most occasions � he replied � but there are exceptions to every rule � and to night � is one of those exceptions but be not discouraged dear lady all is well we are or have been travelling across the she uttered a little involuntary cry the r i think so i imagine so take care for she suddenly leaned her head over the edge of the car and peered down into the dark dome of space i can see nothing she said drawing back her head quickly � it is all whirling darkness i even mere chaos replied � the land is there � but to us it might as well not be there for we see nothing of it even so is the earth to h her the tragedy of a quiet life where the sunshine stayed longest thousands of blew asunder their transparent and swayed to and fro among the green grass like fairy dancers it in a of colour this golden opening of the year was when fine weather came with it the s happiest time � for his pretty wife sparkled into new animation with the brightness of nature and both she and little inseparable companions were always about the grounds together enjoying her small son s games at ball and humming top with as much zest as though she were herself a child often and often when writing his sermon richard would lay down his pen and watch them from his window and smile as the sound of their gay laughter reached him in the seclusion of his study � and he would silently thank god for their beloved and beautiful lives he had of late as has been said resigned himself to the general of and to the adopted towards him by his and if ever the of ambition or discontent stirred within him he made swift attack upon them and drove them back into their i have nothing to wish for he would say to himself with emphasis � nothing to regret � nothing t desire i am content indeed i am more than content � i am happy he impressed this fact often and often upon who persisted in considering limited as a outlook but whenever he thus touched on the subject the little priest smiled and shrugged his shoulders if anything was to be done with the people i would say with you that to be here is happiness � he declared � but see you all the saints and angels and could not move them to so much as one bit of the cause and the need of religion no i i will tell you one thing and i say the same for myself as for you if in the middle of holy mass there was news brought to my congregation that a was on fire every one would run holy orders � out of the yes think you then they can believe in god they would leave his service for a burning but see again if they were all beer at s expense and some one came to them with the same they would not o no j not till they had finished the beer t and smiled rather � would it be the same else in london paris or new york eveiy man has his own special which he seeks to protect above all things my dear friend my unfortunate experience is that most men will leave god for anything that immediately and materially concerns their present selves is no worse than other places in this regard wherever i went i should find no better you would find many more agreeable to live with � returned � and you might be able to speak to people who at least would comprehend shook his head any one comprehend he asked wistfully � would you swear that any one has ever comprehended the glory of the unseen that glory which all our churches feebly try to � a glory you and i ce but cannot put into words he spoke with emotion looked at him you should have been a my excellent friend he said with a genial smile � you should have lived long ago in the ages of faith in one of the quiet grey where the beautiful permit the sunlight and moonlight to scatter through their arches bright glimpses of heaven � you should have had visions and dreamed dreams like st of � and you would have embraced the divine infant and seen the holy yes � you should have been a or another a pale flush crept up to the s brows no � i have nothing of a in me � he said � the tragedy of a quiet life am quite a commonplace man � just an ordinary country parson � are hundreds of us living our lives in little out of the way moss grown english villages like in old gardens we crawl along in accustomed and sleep in the warm sun � while out in the dusty high roads of the world our divine master is being tried condemned and in shame a second time and we do nothing � nothing his voice shook � his hand trembled he was profoundly moved my good richard said gently � i believe you are truly a faithful lover of our lord i believe you would sacrifice your very life for him � even in these days even in these days i would � answered � but i am not found worthy many a time they to this kind of intimate and serious conversation and foimd in the exchange of each other s thoughts and a singularly comforting sympathy soon learned 