quisite
perception of the diviner spirit by which that vitality is informed.
Thus, like the artist, from outward forms of beauty she drew forth the
covert types, lending to things the most familiar exquisite meanings
unconceived before. For it is truly said by a wise critic of old, that
"the attribute of Art is to suggest infinitely more than it expresses;"
and such suggestions, passing from the artist's innermost thought into
the mind that receives them, open on and on into the Infinite of Ideas,
as a moonlit wave struck by a passing oar impels wave upon wave along
one track of light.

So the days glided by, and brought the eve of our bridal morn. It had
been settled that, after the ceremony (which was to be performed by
license in the village church, at no great distance, which adjoined my
paternal home, now passed away to strangers), we should make a short
excursion into Scotland, leaving Mrs. Ashleigh to await our return at
the little inn.

I had retired to my own room to answer some letters from anxious
patients, and having finished these I looked into my trunk for a
Guide-Book to the North, which I had brought with me. My hand came upon
Margrave's wand, and remembering that strange thrill which had passed
through me when I last handled it, I drew it forth, resolved to examine
calmly if I could detect the cause of the sensation. It was not now
the time of night in which the imagination is most liable to credulous
impressions, nor was I now in the anxious and jaded state of mind in
which such impressions may be the more readily conceived. The sun was
slowly setting over the delicious landscape; the air cool and serene; my
thoughts collected,--heart and conscience alike at peace. I took, then,
the wand, and adjusted it to the palm of the hand as I had done before.
I felt the slight touch of the delicate wire within, and again the
thrill! I did not this time recoil; I continued to grasp the wand, and
sought deliberately to analyze my own sensations in the contact. There
came over me an increased consciousness of vital power; a certain
exhilaration, elasticity, vigour, such as a strong cordial may produce
on a fainting man. All the forces of my frame seemed refreshed,
redoubled; and as such effects on the physical system are ordinarily
accompanied by correspondent effects on the mind, so I was sensible of a
proud elation of spirits,--a kind of defying, superb self-glorying. All
fear seemed blotted out from my thought