12 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CAAP. 



All this accounts sufficiently for the recluse life he led 

 at this time, hardly ever mixing with his family, unlike 

 as it seemed to his natural disposition and earlier habits, 

 which were cheerful and sociable to a degree. He had 

 a keen sense of humour, and as a boy, when anything 

 tickled his fancy, it was joyous to hear his ringing laugh. 

 You might have heard him, too, whistling, as he rushed 

 upstairs, two steps at a time, a favourite accomplishment 

 of his, even in after-life, and resorted to occasionally as a 

 pleasant method of throwing off the impression of any 

 little contretemps. During the hard battle between law 

 and philosophy, however, all this light-heartedness seemed 

 to forsake him, and frequent fits of abstraction surprised 

 his sisters and disturbed his father. He had been indulged 

 with a separate study of his own, apart from his brothers, 

 and no one but Charles knew or guessed one-half of 

 what was going on there. On account of his early classes 

 he breakfasted there alone, before the early ride into town. 

 After dinner he returned to his study, and declined 

 appearing at supper, in those days the most cheerful and 

 sociable of all the family meals. He required a good 

 deal of sleep, and on principle did not indulge like many 

 other hard students in sitting up at night, but generally 

 went to bed early. 



Such was the ordinary tenor of his winter life, till the 

 memorable visit to Italy, 1826-7, which brought things 

 to a climax. 



The results are before the world, and the steps of his 

 progress from that time, clearly recorded by himself. 



His father died in 1828. 



To this interesting record little need be added. It 

 will be supplemented by some early recollections which 

 James Forbes wrote in his later years. 



The high quality of his race was conspicuous in him 

 from the first. Strong and sterling fibre, and a lofty 

 bearing, were combined with tender and delicate feel- 

 ings not often found in so vigorous a character. But 

 whatever x may have been the hereditary basis of his 



