A JOURNEY TO NATURE 



for colour ; hideous old relics I thought at first. 

 But I learned the utility of them later, when my 

 lamp was out, and I saw them reflecting the warmth 

 of the fire like two far-away spots of sunset at 

 sea with a dusky haze over them. I suppose the 

 literal Doctor would have said that was just what 

 they had been storing up on some desolate shore 

 for a thousand years. 



When everything was all ship-shape, and the 

 first bleak night came, I fastened the oaken shut 

 ter, lit the student lamp, pulled up the cushioned 

 rocker before the fire, and took a comfortable 

 survey of the place. Upon my word, it looked 

 quite cosey and inviting. 



In all this I had followed the Doctor s advice. 

 Just before he took the train, he put his hand on 

 my shoulder and fired his parting shot. 



&quot; Don t forget,&quot; he said ; &quot; I ve got a sort of 

 contract to pull you up to a hoary eighty-five 

 or was it ninety-five ? Don t frustrate me. I m 

 on my mettle with this thing now. I shall not 

 live to see it, but you will live to thank me. 

 When men suffer from too much light, we have to 

 put them in a dark room, where they cannot see 

 what is going on or read medical books. You ll 

 come out like a beaver in the spring. Write as 

 many letters as you please, but no business letters. 

 Good-by. Write to me once a week. I can 

 always reach you in four hours. But you will not 

 need me unless &quot; and he got out of reach before 

 he finished the sentence &quot;unless you want me 

 for your best man.&quot; 



228 



