xiii.] THE CLOSE. 451 



specialities, always seeking for the good and the true in 

 whatever presented itself to his cognition. If my re- 

 collections of the life at St. Andrews are thus edifying, 

 what shall I say of that, to me never to be forgotten, 

 month I spent with him at Hyeres, when his illness 

 so developed that his return to England was as un- 

 expected as it was gratifying ? To that interesting spot 

 the birthplace of Massillon, the port at which St. Louis 

 landed from the Crusade I was summoned by telegram 

 from Paris on February llth, 1868. I found the 

 whole family in a state of great distress the eldest 

 daughter most dangerously ill, lying in the next chamber 

 to her father and the rest of the party worn out with 

 continued watching. The brilliant sunshine, the bloom- 

 ing almond, the graceful palm-trees, ministered no com- 

 fort to the sick man. He was a close prisoner to his bed, 

 and weary nights succeeded to exhausting days with 

 a perfect monotony : and yet all the time the spirits 

 fainted not. His delight was to be read to. The works 

 of Walter Scott were a never-failing resource. He took 

 the keenest interest in the fortunes of the Presidency 

 of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which he reluctantly 

 declined. Nor was his soul neglected : " Now minister 

 to me," he would say after a conversation on the things 

 of the world, and then he would have prayers read to 

 him, and the Psalms in the beautiful rhythmical Prayer- 

 book version. Night after night it was so ; but the most 

 touching scene of all was, when the door was opened be- 

 n the two sick rooms, a temporary altar fitted up, and 

 the Divine mysteries relehnited. The rites were indeed 

 maimed, the invalids too weak to bear the entire service, 

 but they who knelt at that lowly table will never forget 

 'ii of those who communicated these blessed 

 days. Three are now withdrawn within the veil, and 

 we who remain, retain within our hearts the ne\. r- 

 fadini: memory of these hours, revived in all its fiv-h- 

 ness, whenever in holy ehun-h we Mess God's holy 

 for all His servants departed this life in llis faith 



i r 



aim tear. 



