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Perversely, Sir Thomas always steadfastly protested, because he said that to believe in Herrick’s sanity was not conducive to your own.

So Sir Thomas shrugged, and went toward the open window. Without the road was a dazzling gray under the noon sun, for the sky was cloudless. The ordered trees were rustling pleasantly, very brave in their autumnal liveries. Under a maple across the way some seven laborers were joking lazily as they ate their dinner. A wagon lumbered by, the driver whistling. In front of the house a woman had stopped to rearrange the pink cap of the baby she was carrying. The child had just reached up fat and uncertain little arms to kiss her. Nothing that Browne saw was out of ordinary, kindly human life.

“Well, after all,” said Sir Thomas, upon a sudden, “for one, I think it is an endurable world, just as it stands.”

And Borsdale looked up from a letter he had been reading. It was from a woman who has no concern with this tale, and its contents were of no importance to any one save Borsdale.

“Now, do you know,” said Philip Borsdale, “I am beginning to think you the most sensible man of my acquaintance! Oh, yes, beyond doubt it is an endurable sun-nurtured world–just as it stands. It makes it doubly odd that Dr. Herrick should have chosen always to

‘Write of groves, and twilights, and to sing
The court of Mab, and of the Fairy King,
And write of Hell.'”

Sir Thomas touched his arm, protestingly. “Ah, but you have forgotten what follows, Philip–

‘I sing, and ever shall, Of Heaven,
–and hope to have it after all.'”

“Well! I cry Amen,” said Borsdale. “But I wish I could forget the old man’s face.”

“Oh, and I also,” Sir Thomas said. “And I cry Amen with far more heartiness, my lad, because I, too, once dreamed of–of Corinna, shall we say?”