that a man can do, let it be good or evil? you would not have me
spend all my days between this road here and the river, and not so much
as make a motion to be up and live my life?--I would rather die out of
hand," he cried, "than linger on as I am doing."

"Thousands of people," said the young man, "live and die like you, and
are none the less happy."

"Ah!" said Will, "if there are thousands who would like, why should not
one of them have my place?"

It was quite dark; there was a hanging lamp in the arbour which lit up
the table and the faces of the speakers; and along the arch, the leaves
upon the trellis stood out illuminated against the night sky, a pattern
of transparent green upon a dusky purple. The fat young man rose, and,
taking Will by the arm, led him out under the open heavens. "Did you ever
look at the stars?" he asked, pointing upwards.

"Often and often," answered Will.

"And do you know what they are?"

"I have fancied many things."

"They are worlds like ours," said the young man.

"Some of them less; many of them a million times greater; and some of the
least sparkles that you see are not only worlds but whole clusters of
worlds turning about each other in the midst of space. We do not know
what there may be in any of them; perhaps the answer to all our
difficulties or the cure of all our sufferings: and yet we can never
reach them; not all the skill of the craftiest of men can fit out a ship
for the nearest of these our neighbours, nor would the life of the most
aged suffice for such a journey. When a great battle has been lost or a
dear friend is dead, when we are hipped or in high spirits, there they
are, unweariedly shining overhead. We may stand down here, a whole army
of us together, and shout until we break our hearts, and not a whisper
reaches them. We may climb the highest mountain, and we are no nearer
them. All we can do is to stand down here in the garden and take off our
hats; the starshine lights upon our heads, and where mine is a little
bald, I daresay you can see it glisten in the darkness. The mountain and
the mouse. That is like to be all we shall ever have to do with Arcturus
or Aldebaran. Can you apply a parable?" he added, laying his hand upon
Will's shoulder.

"It is not the same thing as a reason, but usually vastly more
convincing."

Will hung his head a little, and then raised it once more to heaven. The
stars seemed to expand and emit a sharper brilliancy; and a