Instead of being radiant with
success, eager and contented, I found him depressed, anxious,
haggard. He told me that he felt unstrung and exhausted, and that
his power of writing had deserted him. But I must bear testimony at
the same time to the fact which does not emerge in the Diary,
namely, the extraordinary gallantry and patience of his conduct and
demeanour. He struggled visibly and pathetically, from hour to
hour, against his depression. He never complained; he never showed,
at least in my presence, the smallest touch of irritability. Indeed
to myself, who had known him as the most equable and good-humoured
of men, he seemed to support the trial with a courage little short
of heroism. The trial was a sore one, because it deprived him both
of motive and occupation. But he made the best of it; he read, he
took long walks, and he threw himself with great eagerness into the
education of his children--a task for which he was peculiarly
qualified. Then a series of calamities fell upon him: he lost his
boy, a child of wonderful ability and sweetness; he lost his
fortune, or the greater part of it. The latter calamity he bore
with perfect imperturbability--they let their house and moved into
Gloucestershire.
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