Perhaps the part in him which had never had the
opportunity of behaving ill to his mother, and so had not choked
up its channels with wrong, remained, in middle age and illness,
capable of receiving kindness.
Hesper saw the relation between them, but without the least
pleasure or the least curiosity. She seemed to care for nothing--
except the keeping of her back straight. What could it be, inside
that lovely form, that gave itself pleasure to be, were a
difficult question indeed. The bear as he lies in his winter
nest, sucking his paw, has no doubt his rudimentary theories of
life, and those will coincide with a desire for its continuance;
but whether what either the lady or the bear counts the good of
life, be really that which makes either desire its continuance,
is another question. Mere life without suffering seems enough for
most people, but I do not think it could go on so for ever. I can
not help fancying that, but for death, utter dreariness would at
length master the healthiest in whom the true life has not begun
to shine. But so satisfying is the mere earthly existence to some
at present, that this remark must sound to them bare insanity.
Partly out of compliment to Mr. Redmain, the Mortimers had
scarcely a visitor; for he would not come out of his room when he
knew there was a stranger in the house. Fond of company of a
certain kind when he was well, he could not endure an unknown
face when ho was ill.
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