Stephens voice gave way a little here,in defiance of his firmest will to the contrary.Indian affairs had not yet lowered those emotions down to the point of control.
It was broken off,came quickly from Knight.Engagements to marry often end like that--for better or for worse.
Yes;so they do.And what have you been doing lately?
Doing?Nothing.
Where have you been?
I can hardly tell you.In the main,going about Europe;and it may perhaps interest you to know that I have been attempting the serious study of Continental art of the Middle Ages.My notes on each example I visited are at your service.They are of no use to me.
I shall be glad with them.Oh,travelling far and near!
Not far,said Knight,with moody carelessness.You know,I daresay,that sheep occasionally become giddy--hydatids in the head,tis called,in which their brains become eaten up,and the animal exhibits the strange peculiarity of walking round and round in a circle continually.I have travelled just in the same way--
round and round like a giddy ram.
The reckless,bitter,and rambling style in which Knight talked,as if rather to vent his images than to convey any ideas to Stephen,struck the young man painfully.His former friends days had become cankered in some way:Knight was a changed man.He himself had changed much,but not as Knight had changed.
Yesterday I came home,continued Knight,without having,to the best of my belief,imbibed half-a-dozen ideas worth retaining.
You out-Hamlet Hamlet in morbidness of mood,said Stephen,with regretful frankness.