XIIL] THE CLOSE. 453 



a man too much on the stretch, too intent on duty ever 

 to relax into a more playful or humorous mood. But 

 on those within the more intimate circle of friendship 

 or family life, he turned another and tenderer side 

 not apparent to casual observers. When the strain of 

 business was removed, the deeper affections had time to 

 unfold ; and these in him partook of that intensity which 

 belonged to his whole being. Indeed, during all his later 

 years, when Alpine work was over, it was in these 

 affections that he found a shelter which more than com- 



sated for the loss of the ambitions which stirred lug 

 youth. To afford a glimpse into his heart's secrets, a few 



acts from his journals have been given, but not more 

 than were necessary to a faithful representation. 



From these extracts it will be seen that he was a 

 devout man before he became scientific, and his scientific 

 habits of thought never seemed to have disturbed or cast 

 the shadow of a doubt over his faith. Religion and 

 science in him were so far independent that he never 

 troubled himself to build bridges of reconciliation between 

 them, such as are so common now-a-days. Still less did 

 it ever occur to him to import into religion those physical 

 modes of thought now so much in vogue. I think I can 

 see the look of grave contempt with which he would 

 Lave regarded any one who proposed to trace the 

 origin of all things to the working of a blind, soulless 

 force, rather than to the ordering of a living and All-wis<- 

 Mind. \\ii\i Faraday he believed that no man by reason- 

 ing or science can find out God ; and if any tried to do 

 so, they would have got little help from Forbes. But in 

 him they would have seen <>nr \\vll acquainted with all 

 that modern science has really made good, and with all 

 the methods by which it works: one who had himself 

 added real contributions i scientific discovery, and who 

 looked forward hopefully to far greater things yet to be! 

 l.ut who yet held by the religion of ihe 

 JJihle and \ tin- anchor of 



his hope: and this in no dim 'm^ way, but with 



most practical and ennobling faith. The OIK \\ard 



