CHAP. VII.] BACHELOR-SCHOLAR. 205 



elder brother, assumed a deeper and more authoritative 

 cast. He read more widely than ever, and nothing, 

 from the latest novel to the newest metaphysical 

 system, escaped his penetrating mind. He never 

 read without criticising, and his criticisms, often 

 quaintly expressed, were always worth attending to. 

 " I hope that analysis of Hegel has done the writer 

 good," " Comte has good ideas about method, but no 

 notion of what is meant by a person," " Some people 

 keep w r ater-tight compartments in their minds." Such 

 were the sparks that flew about. Other examples, 

 not less striking, will be found in the letters. His 

 observation of social phenomena also took a new 

 departure, and his remarks on life and manners were 

 endlessly entertaining. 



He was elected a member of the Kay Club, which 

 he had attended as a visitor in the spring, and did not 

 forsake the assembling of the " Apostles," as appears 

 from at least two essays which can only be referred 

 to this period. He also took an active interest in the 

 scheme for the higher education of working men, 

 which had been lately set on foot by Mr. Maurice. 



Between whiles he found time for a full course of 

 classical English reading. And as all that he read 

 he read critically, and had it thereafter in perfect pos- 

 session, his literary acquirements were bv this time of 

 no mean order. He was, at the same time, careful to 

 maintain himself in proper physical condition, by a 

 steady course of exercises at the new gymnasium, 

 which proved a welcome refuge in the wet November 

 of that year. It was an unhealthy season, and to 



