第12部分(第5/7 頁)

te　like　a　navvy。　I　was　in　magnificent　spirits。　All　the　way　home　I　had　been　thinking　of　my　day's　work；　and　the　morning　brain；　clarified　and　whipped　to　vigour　by　that　brisk　exercise；　by　that　wholesome　hunger；　wrought　its　best。　The　last　mouthful　swallowed；　I　was　seated　at　my　writing…table；　aye；　and　there　I　sat　for　seven　or　eight　hours；　with　a　short　munching　interval；　working　as　only　few　men　worked　in　all　London；　with　pleasure；　zeal；　hope。　。　。　。

Yes；　yes；　those　were　the　good　days。　They　did　not　last　long；　before　and　after　them　were　cares；　miseries；　endurance　multiform。　I　have　always　felt　grateful　to　Mr。……of　Knightsbridge；　he　gave　me　a　year　of　health；　and　almost　of　peace。

XII

A　whole　day's　walk　yesterday　with　no　plan；　just　a　long　ramble　of　hour　after　hour；　entirely　enjoyable。　It　ended　at　Topsham；　where　I　sat　on　the　little　churchyard　terrace；　and　watched　the　evening　tide　e　up　the　broad　estuary。　I　have　a　great　liking　for　Topsham；　and　that　churchyard；　overlooking　ore　than　river；　is　one　of　the　most　restful　spots　I　know。　Of　course　the　association　with　old　Chaucer；　who　speaks　of　Topsham　sailors；　helps　my　mood。　I　came　home　very　tired；　but　I　am　not　yet　decrepit；　and　for　that　I　must　be　thankful。

The　unspeakable　blessedness　of　having　a　HOME！　Much　as　my　imagination　has　dwelt　upon　it　for　thirty　years；　I　never　knew　how　deep　and　exquisite　a　joy　could　lie　in　the　assurance　that　one　is　AT　HOME　for　ever。　Again　and　again　I　e　back　upon　this　thought；　nothing　but　Death　can　oust　me　from　my　abiding　place。　And　Death　I　would　fain　learn　to　regard　as　a　friend；　who　will　but　intensify　the　peace　I　now　relish。

When　one　is　at　home；　how　one's　affections　grow　about　everything　in　the　neighbourhood！　I　always　thought　with　fondness　of　this　corner　of　Devon；　but　what　was　that　pared