association would renew it. I think that, henceforth, nothing but

some extraordinary jarring of that chord could renew it. After

what has happened, and after his recovery, I find it difficult to

imagine any such violent sounding of that string again. I trust, and

I almost believe, that the circumstances likely to renew it are

exhausted.”

He spoke with the diffidence of a man who knew how slight a

thing would overset the delicate organisation of the mind, and yet

with the confidence of a man who had slowly won his assurance

out of personal endurance and distress. It was not for his friend to

abate that confidence. He professed himself more relieved and

encouraged than he really was, and approached his second and

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last point. He felt it to be the most difficult of all; but,

remembering his old Sunday morning conversation with Miss

Pross, and remembering what he had seen in the last nine days, he

knew that he must face it.

“The occupation resumed under the influence of this passing

affliction so happily recovered from,” said Mr. Lorry, clearing his

throat, “we will call Blacksmith’s work, Blacksmith’s work. We will

say, to put a case and for the sake of illustration, that he had been

used, in his bad time, to work at a little forge. We will say that he

was unexpectedly found at his forge a