He spoke with a tone of deep and bitter melancholy; and Green, who had hitherto scarcely uttered a word, chimed in with feelings of as sad a kind; adding, as an observation upon what Lord Sherbrooke had said, “Who is there that lives past twenty that may not say the same?  Who is there that does not live to lose?—­First goes by youth, down into that deep, deep sea, which gives us back none of all the treasures that it swallows up.  Youth goes down and innocence goes with it, and peace is then drowned too.  Some sweet and happy feelings that belonged to youth, like the strong swimmers from some shipwrecked bark, struggle a while upon the surface, but are engulfed at last.  Strength, vigour, power of enjoyment, disappear one by one.  Hope, buoyant hope, snatching at straws to keep herself afloat, sinks also in the end.  Then life itself goes down, and the broad sea of events, which has just swallowed up another argosy, flows on, as if no such thing had been; and myriads cross and re-cross on the same voyage the spot where others perished scarce a day before.  It is all loss, nothing but loss,” and he again fell into a fit of bitter musing.

“Come, Wilton,” said Lord Sherbrooke, after a moment’s thought, “I will show you a room where you can sleep.  These are but melancholy subjects, and your fancies are grave enough already.  They will be brighter soon—­fear not, Wilton, they will be brighter soon.”

“I know not what should brighten them,” replied Wilton.  “But I will willingly go and seek sleep for an hour or two, as I must depart by daylight to-morrow.  In the meanwhile, Sherbrooke, I will ask you to let me write a brief note to the Duke, and trust to you to send it as early as may be; for to say the truth, in the bitter disappointment I have met with, and the harsh language which he used towards me, I forgot altogether to mention what you told me this morning.”

The materials for writing were soon furnished, although Lord Sherbrooke declared, that were he in Wilton’s situation, he would let the proud peer take his own course, as he had shown himself so ungrateful for previous services.

Wilton, however, only replied, “He is Laura’s father, Sherbrooke,” and the note was accordingly written.

“It shall be delivered early,” said Lord Sherbrooke, as soon as it was ready.  “Give it to me, Wilton; and now let us go.”

Ere he quitted the room, however, Wilton turned to Green, and held out his hand, saying, “I am grieved to see you so sad.  Can I by no means aid you or give you comfort?”

Green grasped his hand eagerly and tightly in his own, and replied, “No, my boy, no; nothing can give me comfort.  I have done that which calmly and deliberately I would do again to-morrow, were I so called upon, and which yet, in the doing it, has deprived my mind of peace.  There may be yet one ray of comfort reach me, and it will reach me from you, Wilton; but it may be that you may wish to speak with me from time to time; if so, you will hear of me here, for I go no more to London.  I have seen bloody heads and human quarters enow.  Seek me here; and if you want anything, ask me:  for though powerless to cure the bitterness of my own heart, I have more power to serve others than ever I had.”