SELBORNE 307 



thought of the vastness of the subject I had 

 entered upon. Looking back it seems but a 

 httle while since the introduction of that new 

 element into thought, that " fiery leaven " which 

 in the end would " leaven aU the hearts of men 

 for ever." But the time was not really so short ; 

 the gift had been rejected with scorn and bitter- 

 ness by the mass of mankind at first; it had 

 taken them years — the years of a generation — 

 to overcome repugnance and resentment, and to 

 accept it. Even so it had wrought a mighty 

 change, only this had been in the mind ; the 

 change in the heart would follow, and it was 

 perhaps early to boast of it. How was I to 

 disclose all this to him ? All that I had spoken 

 was but a brief exordium — a prelude and note 

 of preparation for what should follow — a story 

 immeasurably longer and infinitely more wonder- 

 ful than that which the Ancient Mariner told to 

 the Wedding Guest. It was an impossible task. 



At length, after an interval of silence, to me 

 full of trouble, the expected note of dissent 

 would come. 



I had told him, he would say, either too 

 much or not enough. No doubt there had been 



