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r at his table； he is wele in pleasant houses near and far； his praise is upon the lips of all whose praise is worth having。 With all this； he has the good sense to avoid manifest dangers； he has not abandoned his privacy； and he seems to be in no danger of being spoilt by good fortune。 His work is more to him than a means of earning money； he talks about a book he has in hand almost as freshly and keenly as in the old days； when his annual ine was barely a couple of hundred。 I note； too； that his leisure is not swamped with the publications of the day； he reads as many old books as new； and keeps many of his early enthusiasms。
He is one of the men I heartily like。 That he greatly cares for me I do not suppose； but this has nothing to do with the matter； enough that he likes my society well enough to make a special journey down into Devon。 I represent to him； of course； the days gone by； and for their sake he will always feel an interest in me。 Being ten years my junior； he must naturally regard me as an old buffer； I notice； indeed； that he is just a little too deferential at moments。 He feels a certain respect for some of my work； but thinks； I am sure； that I ceased writing none too soon……which is very true。 If I had not been such a lucky fellow……if at this moment I were still toiling for bread……it is probable that he and I would see each other very seldom； for N… has delicacy； and would shrink from bringing his high…spirited affluence face to face ； whilst I； on the other hand； should hate to think that he kept up my acquaintance from a sense of decency。 As it is we are very good friends； quite unembarrassed； and……for a couple of days…… really enjoy the sight and hearing of each other。 That I am able to give him a fortable bedroom； and set before him an eatable dinner； flatters my pride。 If I chose at any time to accept his hearty invitation； I can do so without moral twinges。
Two thousand pounds！ If； at N…'s age； I had achieved that ine； what would have been the result upon me？ Nothing but good； I know； but what form would the good have taken？ Should I have bee a social man； a giver of dinners； a member of clubs？ Or should I merely have begun； ten years sooner； the life I am living now？ That is more likely。
In my twenties I used to say to myself： what a splendid thing it will be WHEN I am the possessor of a thousand pounds！ Well； I have never possessed that sum……never anything like it……and now never shall。 Yet it was not an extravagant ambition； methinks； however primitive。
As we sat in the garden dusk； the scent of our pipes mingling with that of roses； N… said to me in a laughing tone： 〃e now； tell me how you felt when you first heard of your legacy？〃 And I could not tell him； I had nothing to say； no vivid recollection of the moment would e back to me。 I am afraid N… thought he had been indiscreet； for he passed quickly to another subject。 Thinking it over now； I see； of course； that it would be impossible to put into words the feeling of that supreme moment of life。 It was not joy that possessed me； I did not exult； I did not lose control of myself in any way。 But I remember drawing one or two deep sighs； as if all at once relieved of some distressing burden or constraint。 Only some hours after did I begin to feel any kind of agitation。 That night I did not close my eyes； the night after I slept longer and more soundly than I remember to have done for a score of years。 Once or twice in the first week I had a hysterical feeling； I scarce kept myself from shedding tears。 And the strange thing is that it seems to have happened so long ago； I seem to have been a free man for many a twelvemonth； instead of only for two。 Indeed； that is what I have often thought about forms of true happiness； the brief are quite as satisfying as those that last long。 I wanted； before my death； to enjoy liberty from care； and repose in a place I love。 That was granted me； and； had I known it only for one whole year； the sum of my enjoyment would have been no whit less than if I live to savour it for a decade。
XXIV
The honest fellow who es to dig in my garden is puzzled to account for my peculiarities； I often catch a look of wondering speculation in his eye when it turns upon me。 It is all because I will not let him lay out flower…beds in the usual way； and make the bit of ground in front of the house really neat and ornamental。 At first he put it down to meanness； but he knows by now that that cannot be the explanation。 That I really prefer a garden so poor and plain that every cottager would be ashamed of it； he cannot bring himself to believe； and of course I have long since given up trying to explain myself。 The good man probably concludes that too many books and the habit of solitude have somewhat affected what he would call my 〃reasons。〃
The only garden flowers I care for are the quite old…fashioned roses； sunflowers； hollyhocks； lilies and so on； and these I like to see growing as much as possible as if they were wild。 Trim and symmetrical beds are my abhorrence； and most of the flowers which are put into them……hybrids e……Jonesia； Snooksia……hurt my eyes。 On the other hand； a garden is a garden； and I would not try to introduce into it the flowers which are my solace in lanes and fields。 Foxgloves； for instance……it would pain me to see them thus transplanted。
I think of foxgloves； for it is the moment of their glory。 Yesterday I went to the lane which I visit every year at this time； the deep； rutty cart…track； descending between banks covered with giant fronds of the polypodium； and overhung with wych…elm and hazel； to that cool； grassy nook where the noble flowers hang on stems all but of my own height。 Nowhere have I seen finer foxgloves。 I suppose they rejoice me so because of early memories…… to a child it is the most impressive of wild flowers； I would walk miles any day to see a fine cluster； as I would to see the shining of purple loosestrife by the water edge； or white lilies floating upon the still depth。
But the gardener and I understand each other as soon as we go to the back of the house； and get among the vegetables。 On that ground he finds me perfectly sane。 And indeed I am not sure that the kitchen garden does not give me more pleasure than the domain of flowers。 Every morning I step round before breakfast to see how things are 〃ing on。〃 It is happiness to note the swelling of pods； the healthy vigour of potato plants； aye； even the shooting up of radishes and cress。 This year I have a grove of Jerusalem artichokes； they are seven or eight feet high； and I seem to get vigour as I look at the stems which are all but trunks； at the great beautiful leaves。 Delightful； too； are the scarlet runners； which have to be propped again and again； or they would break down under the abundance of their yield。 It is a treat to me to go among them with a basket； gathering； I feel as though Nature herself showed kindness to me； in giving me such abundant food。 How fresh and wholesome are the odours……especially if a shower has fallen not long ago！
I have some magnificent carrots this year……straight； clean； tapering； the colour a joy to look upon。
XXV
For two things do my thoughts turn now and then to London。 I should like to hear the long note of a master's violin； or the faultless cadence of an exquisite voice； and I should like to see pictures。 Music and painting have always meant much to me； here I can enjoy them only in memory。
Of course there is the disfort of concert…hall and exhibition… rooms。 My pleasure in the finest music would be greatly spoilt by having to sit amid a crowd； with some idiot audible on right hand or left； and the show of pictures would give me a headache in the first quarter of an hour。 Non sum qualis eram when I waited several hours at the gallery door to hear Patti； and knew not a moment's fatigue to the end of the concert； or when； at the Academy； I was astonished to find that it was four o'clock； and I had forgotten food since breakfast。 The truth is； I do not much enjoy anything nowadays which I cannot enjoy ALONE。 It sounds morose； I imagine the ment of good people if they overheard such a confession。 Ought I； in truth； to be ashamed of it？
I always read the newspaper articles on exhibitions of pictures； and with most pleasure when the pictures are landscapes。 The mere names of paintings often gladden me for a whole day……those names which bring before the mind a bit of seashore； a riverside； a glimpse of moorland or of woods。 However feeble his criticism； the journalist generally writes with appreciation of these subjects； his descriptions carry me away to all sorts of places which I shall never see again with the bodily eye； and I thank him for his unconscious magic。 Much better this； after all； than really going to London and seeing the pictures themselves。 They would not disappoint me； I love and honour even the least of English landscape painters； but I should try to see too many at once； and fall back into my old mood of tired grumbling at the conditions of modern life。 For a year or two I have grumbled little……all the better for me。
XXVI
Of late； I have been wishing for music。 An odd chance gratified my desire。
I had to go into Exeter yesterday。 I got there about sunset； transacted my business；