298 THE LAST SUMMERS AND WINTERS. 



conscience by holding the letter to my heart, and taking 

 it for granted all is right ; but as to any continuous or 

 distinct decipherment, that is out of the question. 



" I am here to instruct the senators of mighty England 

 on the mysteries of salmon legislation, and on the water- 

 gauges of the Teith and Leny and Loch Lubnaig. What 

 a fine thing it is to have been a good wader in early life ! 

 Angus seemed much amused by my grave and assiduous 

 attention to business, a brief return to the forlorn hope of 

 my youth! Alas, alas! when I look back, what is there 

 but a trackless waste ? Truly I have been an unprofitable 

 servant, and now the night cometh when no man can 

 work. A blighted spring makes a barren autumn ; though 

 it is but little that the most diligent can do, and the one 

 thing needful is the sure foundation of the Rock of Ages. 

 ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out ! ' 

 Lord, ever give us that bread ! 



" It was pleasant for me to find the M'Neills in London. 

 I shall dine with them this evening, having hitherto kept 

 almost aloof from want of leisure, or rather from the de- 

 sire to give my leisure to the Exhibition. What an extra- 

 ordinary picture Millais' 'Release ' is ! As to the mere 

 handiwork or manipulation, I have scarcely seen anything 

 like it either in ancient or modern art ; and then the 

 sentiment is so simply and solemnly expressed, without 

 any of that over-acting or show of grief, so common with 



