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Article THE STUDENTS. ← Page 5 of 7 →
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The Students.
beauty , and cannot lie to flatter a favourite . The cloister , " he added musingly , " it may come to that—there at least I shall be free from the vices of the world , though not from the infirmities of human naturebut stay—know you where you are ? " Herbert looked around him and found that his companion had insensibly led him to the lane ivhich skirted the wall of Alice Walter ' s garden ; his heart sank within him as he recognised the spot , and he trembled to
ask why he was brought there . " I see , " said Mowbray mournfully , " you recognise the ground , your eye demands that which your tongue fears to ask ; cold as I am 1 will not trifle with you . What see you there ? " he continued , pointing to an old elm whose trunk was half buried in the wall which surrounded the garden . " Nothing but an aged tree , " replied Herbert , " whose foliage I have oftened admired . " " Nothing else ? " demanded the Cynic" look againAhI perceive have
, . , you found it , " he added , as his companion became suddenly and violently agitated by some powerful emotion—¦ " you are right—it is a ladder . " Herbert involuntarily raised his hand to his side as if to grasp a weapon , his companion perceived tbe action . " What ivould you , " he exclaimed , " is this your boasted philosophy ? it may have been left by accident , or placed their by some robber ; leave not the problem half solved , ascend , confirm your doubtsor be quit of them for ever . " Herbert east his eyes
, upon his companion , there was a mournful earnestness in their expression which seemed to forbid hope ; with a determined effort he drew his breath , and ascended the ladder . The miser who for years hath gained a gem of priceless worth , who leaves it for a season , and returning finds his treasure gone , may imagine what Herbert felt in beholding his friend and mistress together in the
garden , Mark ' s arm around her waist , her head reclining upon his bosom ; it was too much for reason—his heart sickened at the sight , and he would have fallen senseless from the wall had not the Cynic caught him in his arms . " Lead me from this accursed spot , " murmured Herbert , as his recollection and self-possession slowly returned , " the grave alike of love and friendship ; you have indeed painfully convinced me of the fallacy of human happiness . "
They walked for some time in silence , which Mowbray was tbe first to break . " I know , " he said , " how vain are all attempts at consolation , your heart hath received a wound which time alone can cure ; yet if you will but reflect how worthless "— " Hold ! " exclaimed Herbert , " the conviction that they are unworthy of my love pains me more than their loss would have done ; for in the grave I might have loved them still , had Alice but dealt ingenuously with mehad Mark but confessed his
, passion , painful as the struggle ivould have been—1 think—I feel I could have resigned her— -but now "— " Is it impossible ? " interrupted Mowbray , " examine well your heart , to regain your friend , to find him not quite unworthy of your love—to make Alice happy could you resign to another the crown—the prize of your manhood , the object of your dearest wishes ? " " I think—I feel I could "—replied Herbert , " point out my path—relieve me from the disgust of my fellow creaturesivhich
, threatens me almost with madness—restore to me my friend true as my heart first found him , and I renounce my Alice—friendship shall console me for the loss of love—better resign one than be wretched in both . " " You ask more than I can reasonably promise , " rejoined his companion , " I cannot change the heart of man , but ! can arm you with a line to sound its depths—to try its every bearing—guide you to vor ,. iv . ' 3 i >
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Students.
beauty , and cannot lie to flatter a favourite . The cloister , " he added musingly , " it may come to that—there at least I shall be free from the vices of the world , though not from the infirmities of human naturebut stay—know you where you are ? " Herbert looked around him and found that his companion had insensibly led him to the lane ivhich skirted the wall of Alice Walter ' s garden ; his heart sank within him as he recognised the spot , and he trembled to
ask why he was brought there . " I see , " said Mowbray mournfully , " you recognise the ground , your eye demands that which your tongue fears to ask ; cold as I am 1 will not trifle with you . What see you there ? " he continued , pointing to an old elm whose trunk was half buried in the wall which surrounded the garden . " Nothing but an aged tree , " replied Herbert , " whose foliage I have oftened admired . " " Nothing else ? " demanded the Cynic" look againAhI perceive have
, . , you found it , " he added , as his companion became suddenly and violently agitated by some powerful emotion—¦ " you are right—it is a ladder . " Herbert involuntarily raised his hand to his side as if to grasp a weapon , his companion perceived tbe action . " What ivould you , " he exclaimed , " is this your boasted philosophy ? it may have been left by accident , or placed their by some robber ; leave not the problem half solved , ascend , confirm your doubtsor be quit of them for ever . " Herbert east his eyes
, upon his companion , there was a mournful earnestness in their expression which seemed to forbid hope ; with a determined effort he drew his breath , and ascended the ladder . The miser who for years hath gained a gem of priceless worth , who leaves it for a season , and returning finds his treasure gone , may imagine what Herbert felt in beholding his friend and mistress together in the
garden , Mark ' s arm around her waist , her head reclining upon his bosom ; it was too much for reason—his heart sickened at the sight , and he would have fallen senseless from the wall had not the Cynic caught him in his arms . " Lead me from this accursed spot , " murmured Herbert , as his recollection and self-possession slowly returned , " the grave alike of love and friendship ; you have indeed painfully convinced me of the fallacy of human happiness . "
They walked for some time in silence , which Mowbray was tbe first to break . " I know , " he said , " how vain are all attempts at consolation , your heart hath received a wound which time alone can cure ; yet if you will but reflect how worthless "— " Hold ! " exclaimed Herbert , " the conviction that they are unworthy of my love pains me more than their loss would have done ; for in the grave I might have loved them still , had Alice but dealt ingenuously with mehad Mark but confessed his
, passion , painful as the struggle ivould have been—1 think—I feel I could have resigned her— -but now "— " Is it impossible ? " interrupted Mowbray , " examine well your heart , to regain your friend , to find him not quite unworthy of your love—to make Alice happy could you resign to another the crown—the prize of your manhood , the object of your dearest wishes ? " " I think—I feel I could "—replied Herbert , " point out my path—relieve me from the disgust of my fellow creaturesivhich
, threatens me almost with madness—restore to me my friend true as my heart first found him , and I renounce my Alice—friendship shall console me for the loss of love—better resign one than be wretched in both . " " You ask more than I can reasonably promise , " rejoined his companion , " I cannot change the heart of man , but ! can arm you with a line to sound its depths—to try its every bearing—guide you to vor ,. iv . ' 3 i >