CAVENDISH. 23 



heaven, has numbered more than seventy-nine years. He 

 who for so many years has studied the decomposition of 

 bodies, and predicted the advent of eclipses, who has calcu- 

 lated the tune when comets should reappear, knows the hour 

 of death is at hand. The mystery of death is only unveiled 

 to those on whom eternity has dawned, to such as have stood 

 face to face before the great Omnipotent. There is, besides, 

 a cognate mystery, one little discussed, but the existence of 

 which is real : the sentiment of death approaching. What 

 that sentiment, that vague prescience may be, who knows 

 save those who have experienced it? Who, at all conver- 

 sant with death-bed scenes, especially those of aged people, 

 can doubt that a vague sentiment of approaching dissolu- 

 tion is sometimes a reality a sentiment which, though 

 vague and undefinable, is often justified by the result, death 

 itself speedily following, so surely as thunder succeeds the 

 lightning ? The old philosopher trembles, the telescope drops 

 from his hand, he utters a faint scream. He feels he is 

 about to die. His mental disturbance is but instantaneous. 

 He gets up haggard and bleeding, for one of the telescope 

 glasses has broken in falling, and has slightly cut him. He 

 slowly descends from his observatory to the sitting-room, 

 where, sinking into an arm-chair, he lays his hand upon a 

 bell and rings it gently. A male domestic appears. 



' Listen !' said Cavendish, addressing him by name. 6 Have 

 I ever commanded you to do an unreasonable thing?' 



The man heard this question without much astonishment, 

 for his master had the character (not without reason) of being 

 an eccentric person. He replied in the negative. 



c And that being the case,' continued his master, * I be- 

 lieve I have a right to be obeyed.' 



The domestic bowed assent. 



* 1 shall now give you my last command,' said Cavendish. 

 *I am going to die. I shall now retire to my chamber. 

 There let me be alone, for I have matters to arrange. Let 



