walked in silence, for Kenelm, after one or two vain attempts at
conversation, had the tact to discover that his companion was in no mood
for talk; and being himself one of those creatures whose minds glide
easily into the dreamy monologue of revery, he was not displeased to
muse on undisturbed, drinking quietly into his heart the subdued joy of
the summer morn, with the freshness of its sparkling dews, the wayward
carol of its earliest birds, the serene quietude of its limpid breezy
air. Only when they came to fresh turnings in the road that led towards
the town to which they were bound, Tom Bowles stepped before his
companion, indicating the way by a monosyllable or a gesture. Thus they
journeyed for hours, till the sun attained power, and a little wayside
inn near a hamlet invited Kenelm to the thought of rest and food.

"Tom," said he then, rousing from his revery, "what do you say to
breakfast?"

Answered Tom sullenly, "I am not hungry; but as you like."

"Thank you, then we will stop here a while. I find it difficult to
believe that you are not hungry, for you are very strong, and there are
two things which generally accompany great physical strength: the one is
a keen appetite; the other is--though you may not suppose it, and it is
not commonly known--a melancholic temperament."

"Eh!--a what?"

"A tendency to melancholy. Of course you have heard of Hercules: you
know the saying 'as strong as Hercules'?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well, I was first led to the connection between strength, appetite, and
melancholy, by reading in an old author named Plutarch that Hercules
was among the most notable instances of melancholy temperament which the
author was enabled to quote. That must have been the traditional notion
of the Herculean constitution; and as for appetite, the appetite of
Hercules was a standard joke of the comic writers. When I read that
observation it set me thinking, being myself melancholic and having
an exceedingly good appetite. Sure enough, when I began to collect
evidence, I found that the strongest men with whom I made acquaintance,
including prize-fighters and Irish draymen, were disposed to look upon
life more on the shady than the sunny side of the way; in short, they
were melancholic. But the kindness of Providence allowed them to enjoy
their meals, as you and I are about to do." In the utterance of this
extraordinary crotchet Kenelm had halted his steps; but now striding
briskly forward he