eries he was making in that other
subject which is not classic, though universal; whereas the only text
that entered into his dreams was that past tense, opening up so many
vistas of thought which he had not realised before. Was there ever a
broken sentence of Aristotle that moved so much the scholar to whom a
new reading has suddenly appeared? There is no limiting the power of
human emotion which can flow in almost any channel, but enthusiastic
indeed must be the son of learning in whose bosom the difference of
the past and the present tense would raise so great a ferment. "I
wondered if you remarked." It lit up heaven and earth with new lights
to Warrender. He wanted no more to raise his musings into ecstasy. He
pictured her standing looking out upon the changing sky, feeling perhaps
a loneliness about her, wanting to say her word, but with no one near
whose ear was fit to receive it. "I wondered"--and he all the while
unconscious, like a dolt, like a clod, with his dim windows already full
of twilight, his mossy old trees hanging over him, his back turned, even,
could it have penetrated through dead walls and heavy shade, to the glow
in the west! While he thought of it his countenance too glowed with
shame. He said to himself that never, should he live a hundred years,
would he again be thus insensible to that great and splendid ceremonial
which ends the day. For that moment she had wanted him, she had need of
him: and not even in spirit had he been at hand, as her knight and
servant ought to be.

And all this, as we have said, in the middle of Rotten Row! He remembered
the spot afterwards, the very place where that revelation had been made
to him: but never was aware that he had met Brunson, who was passing
through London on his way to join a reading party, and was in the
meantime, in passing, making use of all the diversions that came in his
way, in the end of the season, as so reasonable and practical a person
naturally would do.

Warrender went long and far in the strength of this marvellous supply
of spiritual food, and wanted no other; but at last, a long time after,
when it was nearly time to go back to his train, bethought himself that
it would be better to lunch somewhere, for the sake of the questions
which would be certainly put to him when he got home on this point. In
the meantime he had occupied himself by looking out and buying certain
new books, which he had either heard her inquire about or thought