376 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF 



plunged into it again. It had clung to its clirne per 

 sistently, while sunshine covered the Mentone hills. 



After Carlyle's return from Mentone in the spring 

 we had various excursions together. I accompanied 

 him to Melchet, the beautiful seat of Lady Ashburton, 

 and rode with him through the adjacent New Forest. 

 We drove to Lyndhurst to see Leighton's frescoes. We 

 frequently walked together. One day, the storm being 

 wild and rude, a refuge from its buffets was thought 

 desirable. He said he knew of one. I accordingly 

 followed his lead to a wood at some distance. We 

 skirted it for a time, and finally struck into it. In the 

 heart of the wood we found a clearing. The trees had 

 been cut down and removed, their low stumps, with 

 smooth transverse sections, remaining behind. It was 

 a solemn spot, perfectly calm, while round the wood 

 sounded the storm. Dry dead fern abounded. Of this 

 I formed a cushion, and placing it on one of the tree- 

 stumps, set him down upon it. I filled his pipe and 

 lighted it, and while he puffed, conversation went on. 

 Early in the day, as we roamed over the pastures, he 

 had been complaining of the collapse of religious feel- 

 ing in England, and I had said to him, * As regards the 

 most earnest and the most capable of the men of a 

 generation younger than your own, if one writer more 

 than another has been influential in loosing them from 

 their theological moorings, thou art the man I ' Our 

 talk was resumed and continued as he sat upon the 

 stump and smoked his placid pipe within hearing of 

 the storm. I said to him, * Despite all the losses you 

 deplore, there is one great gain. We have extinguished 

 that horrible spectre which darkened with its death- 

 wings so many brave and pious lives. It is something 

 to have abolished Hell firel' * Yes/ he replied, 'that 



