’AndoftenwhenIwakeatnight，andlistentothesilence，orwanderfarfrompeopleinthegraynessoftheevening，orstandandlookatquietwaterhavingshadowsoverit，somevagueimageseemstohoverontheskirtofvision，everchangingplaceandoutline，everflittingasIfollow。Thissomovesandhurriesme，intheeagernessandlonging，thatstraightwayallmychanceislost；andmemory，scaredlikeawildbird，flies。OramIasachildperhaps，chasingaflowncageling，whoamongthebranchesfreeplaysandpeepsattheofferedcageasahomenottobeurgedonhim，andmeanstotakehistimeofcoming，ifhecomesatall？
’OftentooIwonderattheoddsoffortune，whichmademehelplessasIam，andfondofpeaceandreading
theheiressofthismaddomain，thesanctuaryofunholiness。ItisnotlikelythatIshallhavemuchpowerofauthority；andyettheCounsellorcreepsuptobemyLordoftheTreasury；andhissonaspirestomyhand，asofaRoyalalliance。Well，“honouramongthieves，“theysay；andmineisthefirsthonour：
althoughamongdecentfolkperhaps，honestyisbetter。
’Weshouldnotbesoquiethere，andsafefrominterruptionbutthatIhavebeggedoneprivilegeratherthancommandedit。Thiswasthatthelowerend，justthisnarrowingofthevalley，whereitismosthardtocomeat，mightbelookeduponasmine，exceptforpurposesofguard。Thereforenonebesidethesentriesevertrespassonmehere，unlessitbemygrandfather，ortheCounsellororCarver。