d and cheerless chamber and the death-like silence
were like lead upon my heart.

I had often, in my reveries at home, fancied that all who were lifted
above the cottier in life must have neither care nor sorrow; that real
want was unknown, save in their class; and that all afflictions of
those more highly placed were of a character too trifling to be deemed
serious; and now suddenly there came to me the thought, What if every
one had his share of grief? I vow, the very suspicion thrilled through
me, and I sat still, dwelling on the sad theme with deep intensity.

As I sat thus, a sigh, low, but distinct, came from the adjoining
chamber. I suddenly remembered my young master, and crept noiselessly to
the door; it stood ajar, and I could see in, and mark everything well.
He was sitting at a table covered with books and writing materials; a
single candle threw its yellow glare over the whole, and lit up with a
sickly tint the travel-worn and tired features of the youth.

As I looked, he leaned his forehead down upon his arm, and seemed either
overcome by sorrow or fatigue; when suddenly a deep-booming bell sent
forth a solemn peal, and made the very chamber vibrate with its din.
Lyndsay started at the sound; a kind of shudder, like a convulsive
throe, shook his limbs; and sitting up on his seat, he pushed back the
falling hair from his eyes, and again addressed himself to his book.
The heavy tolling sounds seemed now no longer to distract, but rather
to nerve him to greater efforts, for he read on with an intense
persistence; turning from volume to volume, and repeatedly noting down
on the paper as he read.

Of a sudden the bell ceased, and Lyndsay arose from the table and passed
into the bedroom, from which he almost instantaneously reappeared,
dressed in his cap and gown,--a new and curious costume in my eyes, but
which at the time was invested with a deep, mysterious interest to me.

I retired silently now to my room, and saw him pass out into the wide
court. I hastened to look out. Already some hundred others in similar
costume were assembled there, and the buzz of voices and the sound of
many feet were a pleasant relief to the desert-like silence of the
court as I had seen it before. The change was, however, of a very brief
duration; in less than a minute the whole assemblage moved off and
entered a great building, whose heavy door closed on them with a deep
bang, and all was still once more.

I now set myself