第66部分(第6/7 頁)

on　goes；　they　may　be　divided　into　two　classes：　those　who　know　when　to　get　out　of　them；　and　those　who　do　not。

Well；　in　this　case　I　had　sufficient　sense　and　courage　to　appreciate　my　mistake　and　to　retire　while　there　was　yet　time。　Of　course　there　was　some　difficulty；　as　under　the　deed　of　partnership　I　was　bound　for　a　period。　But；　when　he　saw　that　I　was　determined　to　go；　my　partner　behaved　very　well　and　kindly　signed　a　dissolution。

I　should　add　that　the　period　which　this　chapter　covers　was　marked　by　several　events　that　were　more　or　less　important　to　me。　In　1893　my　dear　father　died　as　the　result　of　a　chill　which　he　caught　in　waiting　about　for　the　poll　to　be　declared　at　an　election　in　cold　weather。　It　was　sad　to　see　a　man　of　his　great　strength　and　energy　fading　away　and　being　so　subdued　and　gentle；　qualities　which　were　not　natural　to　him。　After　one　extraordinary　recovery　from　the　jaundice；　or　whatever　it　was　that　had　attacked　him；　believing　himself　to　be　strong　again；　he　began　to　travel　and　pay　visits　in　winter；　and　thus　brought　on　a　return　of　his　ailment。　I　was　not　actually　present　at　his　death…bed；　as　I　could　only　reach　Bradenham　on　the　following　day。　He　left　me　one　of　his　executors　and；　as　he　was　dying；　told　our　old　servant　Hocking　to　give　me　his　watch　and　chain；　which　I　think　had　been　his　father’s　before　him。　I　have　it　now；　still　marking　the　hour　at　which　it　ran　down　under　his　pillow　on　that　night。　His　last　words；　spoken　almost　as　he　expired；　were：

“God　is　everywhere！　He　is　in　this　room；　is　He　not？”

He　looked　fine　and　peaceful　in　death；　as　I　think　I　have　said；　he　was　very　handsome；　and　in　many　ways　a　remarkable　man。　I　never　knew　anyone　who　resembled　him　in　the　least　or　who　was　the　possessor　of　half　his　energy。　God　rest　him！

Sir　Theophilu