hadbeenwithinitswalls!WhycouldInothavebeen,contentwithwhatitrepresented?oftradition,ofcustom,——ofreligion?Andwhatwasitwithinmethathadluredmeawayfromthese?
Iwasmiserable,indeed,butmymiserywasnotofthekindIthoughtitoughttobe.Atmoments,whenmymotherrelapsedintoweeping,Iglancedatheralmostinwonder.Suchsorrowasherswasincomprehensible.Onceshesurprisedanddiscomfitedmebyliftingherheadandgazingfixedlyatmethroughhertears.
Irecallcertainimpressionsofthefuneral.There,amongthepall-
bearers,wasmyCousinRobertBreck,tearsinthefurrowsofhischeeks.
HadhelovedmyfathermorethanI?ThesightofhisgriefmovedmesuddenlyandstronglyItseemedanagesinceIhadworkedinhisstore,andyetherehewasstill,comingtotowneverymorningandreturningeveryeveningtoClaremore,lovinghisfriends,andmourningthemonebyone.Wasthis,thespectaclepresentedbymyCousinRobert,therewardofearthlyexistence?Weretherenootherprizessavethoseknownasgreatnessofcharacteranddepthofhumanaffections?CousinRobertlookedwornandold.Theotherpall-bearers,menofweight,oflongstandinginthecommunity,wereaged,too;Mr.Blackwood,andMr.