CHAPTER IX.
THE SPIRIT LEG.--THE ANALYTICAL CHEMIST'S STORY.
Being left an orphan at an early age, I was consigned to the care of abachelor uncle, one Admiral Broadside, who instructed me almost entirelyhimself until I reached the age of twelve. I was then sent to school,where I went through a routine of learning taught to boys at that time,and though I was backward in many things when I first entered theschool, I was a persevering scholar, and soon left behind me many boyswho had the start of me. I thus made enemies, and being of a retiringdisposition, owing to my previous education, I made but few friends.
But let me return to my uncle. I have the liveliest recollection of theold man with his weather-beaten face, his deep-set eyes, andover-hanging black eyebrows, resembling a moustache rather than thefeature we usually see in their place. Well I remember the sheen and thelustre of that rubicund nose, sprouting with grog-blossoms, theiron-grey hair, and long pig-tail; his spectacles, with glasses as bigas a crown piece, his cocked hat, his uniform adorned with medals, andhis hobbling gait--for he had lost his right leg in an engagement,and used as a substitute a wooden one. How well I can call to mind hisnautical language and his merry laugh; but, alas, I remember too wellalso his angry frown, and the sundry thwackings that I got with a"cat-o'-nine-tails," when I had "offended against discipline."
From an infant he tried to instil into my young mind the glories of asea-faring life, and what a grand thing it was to fight for the honourand glory of one's country. He told me that he had great interest in thenavy, and if I turned out a worthy nephew of his, he would get me on inmy career, and that he hoped I should never disgrace his name by showingthe white feather and turning landlubber.
He tried to influence my youthful imagination with stories ofsea-fights, the capture of pirates, the manners and customs of foreigncountries, the merry crew on board, etc. He would cut out boats for mefrom blocks of wood, and would rig out and launch them in a fish pond ina garden behind his house.
Up to a certain period in my youth my uncle's nautical stories and hispromises of pushing me on in life, if I answered his expectations, firedmy ambition, and I could talk of nothing else than of going to sea.
My uncle having no children of his own, looked upon me as his son, andsaid that I was just the sort of boy for him. He would praise me to hisfriends and before my face, but his eulogium of myself lasted onlyduring the time I lived with him--namely, before he sent me to school,for at school a great change came over me, and my uncle noticed withregret upon my return for the holidays the growing coolness in metowards a sea-faring life; in fact, that my tastes had begun to developthemselves in quite another direction.
Away from the influence of my guardian, I had dared to breath in a newatmosphere, and to find out that there were other walks in life quite asnoble, and to me much more fascinating than that of the sea. The term"landlubber" conveyed no disparagement to my ears now. I merely saw init the venting of the spleen of an egotistical and narrow mind. Howpaltry that class of men must be which speaks with disparagement of allothers who do not happen to be within its own narrow circle.
I was ashamed of myself for ever having been led away by such falseopinions, and had many a hot dispute with my guardian about hisilliberal notions. Now, the admiral had a temper of his own; he was nota man accustomed to be thwarted. He had made up his mind that I was togo to sea, and to sea he was determined to send me, whether I willed itor no.
I was now about fourteen, and since I had been away from home I hadimbibed strong notions of independence. I did not see that any man had aright to dispose of me as he thought fit. I felt myself a free agent,and my youthful blood rose at the cool way in which my uncle thought tobend me to his will. Had I not the right to seek my own walk in life?Was I to be baulked of my true avocation because I was told that myinterest lay elsewhere? Interest! Bah! I despised interest.
My uncle promised me that if I went to sea he would leave all hisfortune to me, as I was his heir, and if I refused, he would not leaveme a groat. What then? I had a small income left me by my father when Ishould come of age, which was enough to keep me like a gentleman. Whatdid I want with the old admiral's money? I was not going to sell myselffor filthy lucre.
It was whispered that the old man had amassed a considerable fortune,and I should be called a fool by the world to quarrel with him. But wasmy will to be bought with gold? I was grateful to him for what he hadalready done for me, and I never wished to quarrel with him; but when Isaw that he expected as a proof of my gratitude I should humour his whimby sacrificing my highest ambition in life to follow a profession I nowreally cared nothing about, I felt it my duty to rebel against myguardian and choose my own course.
I felt myself born for something better than a sea-faring life. The seamight be very well for those who had a taste for it, or for those whowere fit for nothing else. Besides, sailors are generally such ignorantpeople, and I flattered myself that I had a mind to cultivate andresolved to devote myself to study.
My hobby was science, and the branch I was chiefly anxious to excel in,chemistry. I believe the first thing that fired my imagination topursue this delightful science was the reading a book lent me by afriend, entitled, "Lives of the Alchemists." From this I learned howmany clever men had devoted their lives and fortunes in pursuit of thephilosopher's stone. I do not remember reading any of them actually_did_ make gold; but the perseverance and energy of these men! There wassomething sublime in a man of means giving up the wealth and luxury ofhis position to follow science. How I loved to read of these perseveringsages, of their trials and disappointments, and how, heedless of allvicissitudes, they still pursued to the last with unflagging energy thatscience that they alone lived for. I had no doubt that in early timesthere was an immensity of superstition mingled with their science.
Nevertheless, thought I, is it possible that so many clever men shouldhave wasted their whole lives in study and have been just upon the pointof discovering the secret if there were really nothing in it at all? Iinquired of a chemist in our town whether he believed in the possibilityof making gold. He told me that he did not; but then a learned man withwhom I once conversed said that he was of opinion that it _was_possible, but added that if the secret were discovered it wouldcertainly be valueless.
I preferred leaning towards the opinion of the learned man who believedin the possibility of making gold out of baser metals, and resolved togive the study of my life to the discovery of the secret withoutletting others know what I was striving after.
It happened that the chemist of our town whose opinion I had consultedas to the probability of success in alchemy sent his son, with whom Iwas rather intimate, to the same school as my guardian had put me at. Hewas a lad of my own years, and shared my taste for study. Having much incommon, we soon struck up a warm friendship, which lasted for manyyears; in fact, until his death, some fifteen years back. I may assertthat he was the only friend I ever had in my youth, for I was a reservedlad, and did not court friendship. He, too, was reserved, and sought noother friend but myself.
We were always in each other's company, and used to be nicknamed Castorand Pollux by the other boys. They could none of them understand why wetwo withdrew ourselves from the rest and refused to join in their games,and they wondered much what we found to talk about one to the other. Wewere both looked upon as unsociable, and accordingly disliked.
We both of us had high aspirations, and each of us felt the value of hisexistence, and that high honours awaited him in posterity, if not inthis life, provided that he made the best use of his abilities. We mighteach of us have been about fifteen, when we swore an eternal friendship,and likewise to keep secret from others the nature of our studies. WhenI returned home from school for good--being then about seventeen--myuncle the admiral was in despair at finding me more than ever confirmedin my views of a studious life, and said I had disappointed his hopes,and that I need henceforth hope for no help from him.
A gentleman who visited my uncle, and who
seemed to take an interest inme, seeing that I was a young man of some promise, advised me to go to aGerman university, and recommended to me the university of Jena.
He took upon himself to remonstrate with my guardian upon what he calledhis harsh treatment of myself, and told him that he had no right toforce me against my true calling, but his words were as wind in theadmiral's ears, for he was as obstinate as a mule.
"Do you mean to tell me, sir," said the admiral, "that my boy can't bemade a sailor of, if he is only properly brought up?"
"Yes," said his friend; "it is precisely that point I wish to discuss. Ideny that we are all born alike; and if you force this young man to goto sea you will make a bad sailor of him when he might have done honourto his country in another way."
"Boys mustn't be allowed to go just any way they like. They must learndiscipline and obedience. I tell you that it is to his interest to go tosea. He is my heir, and if he conducts himself properly he may hope tobe pushed on in life as long as I live, and inherit my fortune at mydeath. If he refuses, I shall cut him off, so he knows what to expect."
"I sincerely regret your harsh determination," said the gentleman, "forI really consider your nephew a young man of great promise. He isstudiously inclined, and in every way shows that the sea is about thevery last calling for which he is destined. Why should you try to wastehis young life in a profession which he is unfit for?"
"Unfit for!" exclaimed the admiral. "Unfit for! In my time there was notalk of a lad's being unfit to serve his country at the bidding of thosein authority over him, unless he was a cripple. Is not my nephew strongand well built enough for the sea? Why should he be unfit?"
"Not physically unfit," said his friend. "I do not doubt for a momenthis physical capabilities, but if he has formed other tastes, and feelshimself called in another direction, why----"
"Nonsense, sir, nonsense! about his feeling himself called in anotherdirection. He ought to feel himself called where his interest lies, tosay nothing of his duty towards those placed over him," said my uncle.
"But you wouldn't make a slave of the boy?" said his friend.
"I only wish to call him to his senses, to make him do that which isbest for himself. Am I to yield to a mere boyish whim, for which hehimself would be sorry later in life? And as to his having no taste forit; he was full of it whilst he lived under my roof, before he went toschool. It is only since he left me that he has got these new-fanglednotions and hoisted the white feather."
"I do not see that it is any sign of cowardice to have changed hisopinions since he was under your roof. Since then his mind has becomemore enlarged, and he is better able to see what he is fit for than whenhe had received no other instruction than your own. Since then he hasmade acquaintances----"
"And pretty acquaintances he has made! About the only acquaintance thathe has is the son of a d----d apothecary, who happens to be at the sameschool. Do you think I can't see from whom he has picked up his sicklynotions? Should I be doing my duty to my brother's son were I to aid himin his insane hobby of turning apothecary? To allow one of _my_ family,one of my own flesh and blood, to make pills and spread plaisters for aliving, when he might be boarding the enemy's fleet and shedding hisblood for the honour and glory of his country? Why damme, sir, it's notmanly, I'll be hanged if it is."
"Because he may have formed some acquaintances with this apothecary,doesn't necessarily show that he intends to turn apothecary himself. Hesays that he wishes to devote himself to the study of chemistry. Surelythere is nothing disgraceful in that! Perhaps his determination may notbe quite fixed as yet. He wishes to go to the university, where he willreceive the education of a gentleman, and after a few years of study hewill be enabled to settle down in that walk of life which suits himbest."
"In the meantime he is wasting the flower of his youth in moping study,whilst he might be earning his laurels at sea."
"Life, my dear admiral, is a playground on which numbers meet to play ata vast variety of games. You have won your laurels at sea; let the poorboy earn his in the game he most delights in. We are not all bornalike."
"Bah! Laurels gained at pills and poultices. Much good may his laurelsdo him. If he is wise, he will forget at once his low acquaintances,awaken to his real interest, and take a cruise with me. I have no doubtthat after a time I shall set him to rights again."
"And if he refuses to go?"
"Oh!--then--then--why, he may as well begin to mix drugs at once, andthe sooner the better."
"You mean that you would cut him off."
"Ay, that I most decidedly should."
"Now, my dear admiral, don't you think it would be kinder, as well asthe best way to save the honour of your family, to try and prevent himfrom following the apothecary's business by doing what you can to aidhis studies, that he may choose some other gentlemanly professionbesides the sea, since he seems to have taken such an aversion to it?"
"No, no; my determination is fixed. If he does my will I will help himin what way I can. If he will not, neither will I help him in anything.He knows what he has to expect, either the sea and my portion when Idie, or pills, poultices, and beggary."
"I much regret your stern decision, I must say," said the gentleman, andhere the conference ended.
I was well aware of the admiral's decision, and that nothing on earthcould move him; and as I was equally determined not to go to sea, Iinformed him how I had decided.
"Well, then," he said, "from to-day you are no longer nephew of mine.Follow your own silly inclinations, but don't hope for any help fromme."
I considered myself turned out of the house, so I quietly packed up mythings, and without taking leave of my uncle, I called upon my uncle'sfriend, the gentleman who had shown so much interest in my cause andexplained how I was situated. I told him that I had money left me by myfather, which I could not touch until I came of age. In the meantime Imight die of want, as my uncle had refused positively to call me hisnephew any longer. Therefore I begged him to be kind enough to lend me asufficient sum to complete my studies at a foreign university, and Iwould repay him when it lay in my power.
My uncle's friend was a man of means and of a generous disposition, andnot likely to see me go down thoroughly in the world, granted myrequest. I left my native town without letting my uncle know, anddeparted for Germany. I found my way to the university of Jena, where Ientered and commenced my studies.
My first step was to perfect myself in the German language, toaccomplish which I took lessons, visited the theatre, and went intosociety. The romance that seemed to attach itself to the life of aGerman student had long inflamed my youthful fancy, and I entered a"chor," or company of students, who distinguish themselves from othersby their own especial "tricolor," which they wear in a ribbon acrosstheir chests and round their caps, and from ordinary mortals by theirotherwise fantastic way of dressing themselves.
The novelty of this life, rather than the life itself, charmed me; forthough I was delighted with the freedom and goodfellowship amongst theseyoung men, I was not a youth naturally given to excess, and I soon foundthat a little of this sort of life went a long way.
Nevertheless, at the beginning my fondness for the study of human naturein all its phases induced me to take part in all the manners and customsof my companions. I joined them at their "kneipe," drank and sang withthem, smoked with them, fought with them. I never refused a challenge,and sometimes even provoked a duel. I was never behind hand in anymidnight brawl. I wore high boots and enormous spurs; gambled, betted,serenaded, played practical jokes, and soon got the reputation of a"flotter bursch" or rowdy fellow.
As every German student has his "Liebchen," I, too, had mine. A fairTeutonic damsel of good family deigned to smile on me, and there wasmuch talk at one time in the little town of Jena about Fraulein vonHammelstengel and the handsome Englishman being "verlobt."
People will talk at all times, and when news is wanting--what so easy asto invent? All the inhabitants of the town of Jena thought that they ha
da right to know and to talk of my private affairs, and seeing that I wasof a reserved disposition and that they were not likely to extract muchfrom me by pumping, it began to be rumoured abroad that I had certaingrave reasons for maintaining secrecy, and in a very short time it wasreported that I was a great "my lord," travelling in disguise forpolitical purposes, and that I possessed a fortune of countless millionsof pounds sterling.
This interesting discovery soon reached the ears of the parents of thealready-mentioned young lady, who, by the way, had other admirersbesides myself, and I could not without vanity at that time fairlyconsider myself the favoured one. Nevertheless, from the time the reportof my fabulous riches spread throughout the whole university town Isuddenly found Fraulein von Hammelstengel thrust in my way in the mostobtrusive manner.
If I went to the theatre she was sure to be blocking up the doorway as Ientered. If I was invited to a party, she was sure to be there. If Iwent to a public beer garden, there she was again; in the streets, inchurch--everywhere.
At the time I speak of I had but little experience of the world, butthat little sufficed for me to see the trap that was laid for me. I wasamused at the farce played before me, but disgusted with the actors, andresolved to withdraw myself.
Now, Miss von H. was a very fair specimen of the German upper classes.Besides being pretty, she could cook, knit stockings, do every sort ofhousehold work, had a very nice voice, and was a very excellentperformer on the pianoforte. She was amiable, and possessed all thequalities of a good housewife. I may even confess that she was not quiteindifferent to me at this time, but when I saw that her parents weremaking a bait of her to catch me, I was awed at the hook, and meditatedescape.
I therefore prepared to undeceive the family as to the state of myfinances, giving out that I was only a poor student who, unable to makeboth ends meet in my own country, had retired to the continent to livecheaper. This I confided to the young lady herself, and it was evidentlysoon after repeated to the parents, for a marked change in theirbehaviour soon manifested itself towards me, which was not only what Iexpected, but what I wished for. However, after a time it was reportedin the town that I could not be as poor as I pretended to be, as it wasremarked that I always paid my bills--a somewhat rare occurrence amongGerman students--that I was always well dressed, lived well, had givenwine parties, and had books expensively bound.
Now, when the von Hammelstengels heard this last report, they beganagain to believe in all that they had been told of me at first, andrather than let their prey escape so easily, they resolved to makeanother effort, and commenced to weave their meshes around me again.
In vain I repeated that I was only a poor student, and could not hope tomarry. I saw that I was not believed, and was persecuted more than everwith attentions. Mrs. von Hammelstengel grew so amiable, that I wasquite alarmed. Her husband so cordial and obsequious, that I grewdisgusted. The "fraulein" herself so languishing and sentimental that Isaw that there was nothing open for me but flight, so informing them allthat important family affairs had called me suddenly back to England, Ibade them a hasty farewell, and shut myself up in my own lodging for atime.
Now, this stratagem was discovered by the brother of Miss vonHammelstengel, an officer in the army. He met me about two months afterI had taken leave of the family, and having ascertained that I had beenin Jena all the time, and had never mentioned to anyone else myintention of returning to my country, he came to the conclusion that myretirement was nothing but a "ruse" to free myself from the clutches ofhis family.
He could not let me slip without playing his last card, which was tofrighten me into marriage if possible. With this object he managed topick a quarrel with me, asking me if I thought it was behaving like agentleman to excite hopes in the breast of a young and innocent girl,and then absconding, saying that he could not see his sister piningaway day by day without taking her cause in hand, etc.
There was nothing left me, he said, but to marry his sister or to fighthim. My decision was soon made. I told him that I would never be forcedinto marriage through fear of a wound, and I resolved to fight him.
An officer in the army is the only grade of man that a German studentdeigns to fight with. All others are beneath his notice. Now, as myadversary was an officer, it was considered no degradation on my part toaccept the challenge, so weapons were provided, compliments exchangedbetween seconds, and the adversaries met.
The offence towards his family was seen in such a grave light by my foe,that instead of the ordinary method adopted by German students--the useof the customary leaden collar, and pads to protect the more vitalparts--nothing would satisfy him but a duel with the sabre, without padsand bandages.
This is the most terrible challenge, save that with the pistol, but Idid not shrink from it. I left a letter directed to the gentleman inEngland who had lent me the money to pursue my studies at the universityin the hands of my second, to be posted in case of my death, andhastened to meet my adversary. The fight was short, though desperate. Myadversary fell severely wounded in the arm. Parties tried to hush up thematter, but of course the town was soon full of it. The story of theduel was variously told. Some said that I had vanquished the captain,and others that he had vanquished me; but the truth soon oozed out.
Fraulein von Hammelstengel subsequently married an old count, who wassupposed to be rich, but who proved afterwards not to possess a penny.
But to return to myself. Disgusted with my experience of human nature,and of womankind in particular, I set to work now more diligently thanever. Bade farewell to my "chor," and gave up rioting and revelling, andwrote to my school friend the chemist's son to come and join me in mystudies. I also wrote a letter to the gentleman who had kindly furnishedme with funds to continue my studies abroad, and in due time I receivedthe following letter:--
"MY DEAR CHARLES.--I am delighted to hear that you have at lengthsettled down again to earnest study. I hope you will not get into anymore scrapes, or another time you may not get off scot-free. Duelling isa very wicked and a very silly practice, and does no credit to eitherparty; therefore I hope you will never seek a quarrel, but do all youcan to steer clear of pugnacious persons. You have now been more than ayear at the university, and you write so seldom that you leave me in thedark as to what progress you have made during your stay. I wish youwould write oftener, as I am very much interested to know how you aregetting on. Now for a bit of home news. Your uncle the admiral, shortlyafter your departure, took to himself a young and pretty wife. I amafraid, however, instead of the happy home he contemplated, he sees toolate that he has done a foolish thing. She is a desperate flirt, andrumours of such a nature are afloat in the town, that I should not besurprised if before long he sues for a divorce. He has never been thesame man since you left, and looks considerably older. Thedisappointment that he felt at your determination to go your own wayinstead of his has been indeed a great blow to him. I constantlyremonstrated with him on his views of your conduct towards him, but youknow how obstinate he is. He grumbles that you left his house in a huffwithout even taking leave of him, but he has never had the curiosity toask what has become of you, and hasn't an idea that I know of yourwhereabouts.
"I called at your friend's the chemist's yesterday. His son told me thatyou had written to him advising him to join you in Jena. He would bedelighted to go, and I do not think his father is averse to sending him.He is a superior lad, and I am not prejudiced enough to advise you tocut his acquaintance on the mere ground of his having been born in ahumbler sphere of life than yourself. The admiral may have hisprejudices, and to a certain extent I agree with him; that is to saythat one ought rather to seek acquaintances within his own class thanout of it. Still, when we meet a man of superior mind in a class alittle below our own, I see no reason why we should draw the line ofsociety too tightly. I must now leave off, and hoping that you willtake care of your health, as well as improve in your studies,--I remain,yours very truly,
"EDWARD LANGTON."
Here was news indeed! My old bachelor uncle--he who when he was merryused to laugh at the foibles of the fair sex and ridicule marriedmen--had himself been betrayed into marrying one of those frail beingshe professed to despise. All the experience of his long life hadvanished like smoke before the sunshine of his charmer. He had beendazzled with her eyes, and had taken a step in the dark, and foundhimself, too late, in the quagmire of remorse.
Poor old fool! I sincerely pitied him. "This comes," said I to myself,"of turning nephews out of doors. Had you, instead of trying to bend theiron resolve of your nephew to your own poor old obstinate will,assisted him in his very laudable determination to follow science, youmight yet have lived and died a bachelor to your heart's content. Butconsole yourself, my uncle, St. Anthony was tempted by a fair demonbefore you. Now you have learned a lesson, although it has come somewhatlate in life."
Although I deeply sympathised with my guardian's mistake, I could not dootherwise than feel that he fully deserved this punishment for histreatment of myself. How absurd and arrogant of a man, to persist inbending another to his own selfish will! Are we free agents, or are wenot?
But enough of this. My uncle had sinned, and he was punished. He hadimagined his charmer an angel, and found after all that she was butmortal like the rest of her sex, a poor, weak woman. He could hardlyever have been besotted enough to fancy that she had married him foranything else than his money, but what will not a man do to obtain theidol of his affections?
Perhaps it was not mere blind passion that had induced him to thrust hisneck under the yoke. It might only have been pique. He would show hisnephew that he could live very happily without his companionship, andthis was the way he showed it.
I mentally drew a portrait of my aunt. A dashing, reckless girl,determined to have her own way in everything, running up dressmakers'bills, driving about in her carriage to spend her days in visiting andfrivolity. Ambitious of pleasing every man but her husband. Dragging herpoor old wooden-legged spouse after her to balls, operas, and concerts,or else leaving him at home, perhaps poorly, whilst she was enjoyingherself in some crowded assembly, surrounded by a troop of younggallants, encouraging their attentions and making game of the poor oldfool she had cajoled into marrying her. I imagined her pretty, witty,vivacious and with a temper. A thorough incapacity for the management ofa household, vain, extravagant, frivolous, heartless, calculating.
Such was the mental picture I had drawn of my young aunt. How I couldimagine her of an evening--if she ever stayed at home with her husbandin the evening--yawning over the admiral's long nautical stories,sighing and pouting when he asked her to bring him his slippers, orrather his slipper, for he had but one. Turning up her nose as she mixedhis grog for him or lighted his pipe. Shuddering when the old mancaressingly touched her dimpled chin, and pleading fatigue that shemight go to bed early to be alone and dream of some handsome younglieutenant she had met at Mrs. So-and-So's ball.
"Well, well," said I to myself, "I will not triumph too long over yourfall, uncle, lest some day the like may happen to myself, which Heavenforfend."
I tried to imagine myself with a wife like my aunt. I, a scholar, asearcher after the philosopher's stone, with a gay young wife always outat parties, a family of neglected children at home, breaking in upon mystudies and smashing my crucibles and retorts, tearing up my valuableMSS, turning my laboratory into a nursery, and profaning my hours ofstudy with their crying and squabbling.
"No," said I, "it shall not be. I will live single. A scientific man iswedded to science."
After the letter I had received from my friend Langton, the opinion Ihad formed of womankind was somewhat of the lowest. I imagined that allwomen were alike, and the dread I felt lest I should fall into a trapmyself, induced me to shut myself up more than ever. I built alaboratory and fitted it up. I pored over my books, fasted, sleptlittle, and sought as much as possible to reduce matter into mind. Iresolved to give myself wholly up to the study of the transmutation ofmetals, nothing doubting that some day if I persisted in my labours Ishould be rewarded by the discovery of the philosopher's stone. I paidno visits, neither received any. I had seen enough of dissipation, andwas now resolved to make up for lost time. A sudden change had come overme. I was no longer the "flotter bursch" that the year before swaggered,booted and spurred through the streets of Jena, foremost in the midnightrevel, dauntless at the duel, guilty of every species of extravaganceand excess. I had become the haggard and emaciated student of the darkarts, nervous in the extreme, shunning company, and the nature of whosestudies was a mystery to all. Slovenly and smoke begrimed, daily andnightly I poured over my crucibles, trying all sorts of experiments andsuffering many disappointments, denying myself the common necessaries oflife, that I might expend my small income in instruments and articleswherewith to pursue my science. Absorbed in that one pursuit, I quiteforgot the world without, forgot that I was of the same clay as myfellow mortals, lost all sympathy for the rest of my kind, neithersought any from them. My whole mental energies were concentrated on thatone topic--that of making gold. Nor was it avarice that induced me tomake gold the object of my pursuit. Nothing, I assure you, but the purelove of science prompted me in my studies. I had already made severalcurious discoveries. I was on the eve, or thought I was, of discoveringthe great secret, when owing to excessive fasting and want of sleep, myhealth broke down. Being originally of an iron constitution, I deemed inthe pride of my youth that I was proof against any fatigue of mind orbody until actual experience taught me that there were bounds even to mypowers of endurance.
As I had not for a very considerable time to set foot beyond the narrowwalls of my cell, and my mental faculties were thoroughly engrossed withstudy, my system required but slight stimulant. A cup of milk and a rollin the morning and a leek in the evening was all I required to keep souland body together. Nay, latterly I confined myself to a slice of breadand a glass of water, and this lasted me all day for more than afortnight. This scanty food was brought me by an orphan boy, who wasdeaf and dumb, whom I had engaged as my servant, as being better able tokeep silence as to the nature of my studies.
Each day I fancied brought me nearer and nearer towards the discovery ofthe grand secret, when Nature, long trampled upon, rebelled, andpositively refused to hold out any longer. My form was reduced to thatof a skeleton, objects swam before my eyes, my brain reeled, and Irepeatedly fainted for want of nourishment. My hand trembled, my mindlost its energy, and I was no longer fit for study. I found that I hadovertaxed my strength, and saw the necessity of taking more food.
One morning when I felt so debilitated that I really thought my lasthour was come, I ordered my servant to make me some broth. He hadscarcely left my laboratory to obey my orders when a peculiar sensationcame over me. I am as certain as I am of my own existence at the presentmoment that I was then in a waking state, though what I am about torelate to you now may appear to some like a dream. I felt--if I may sodescribe my feelings--that I did not belong to myself, or, as if myspirit were entirely free and independent of my body. It was a feelingas of a bounding elasticity, as if neither the walls of my cell nor anyother material objects were impediments to me, and that I was capable atwill of soaring into realms of space, and of conversing withintelligences of an immeasurably higher order than those of our mundanesphere, and of perfectly understanding discourses that in the body I wasperfectly sure would be beyond my comprehension.
I remember that on this very morning I was seated in a high-backedarm-chair of carved oak, in a reflective mood. My crucibles and retortsstrewed the laboratory in the greatest disorder. I was too weak to studyor even to rise from my chair, when suddenly upon raising my eyestowards the opposite wall of my laboratory, the scene seemed changed,and instead of the bare wall before me I saw the mouth of a large cave,through the innumerable arches of which I could see to a great distance,for the interior seemed lighted up as with fire.
Now, I know that I was perfectly unable to rise from m
y chair, yet itappeared to me that I rose, and with firm step entered the cave.
It was dark and very chilly. I gazed around me for a moment andshuddered when I discovered at my side, my eyes being now accustomed tothe light, the form of an old man, bald-headed, and with snowy locks andbeard. His brow was high and his eye clear and beaming with wisdom andbenevolence. His form was upright and his step firm, and he wore a tunicwith ample folds and of a sad colour.
At first I started and looked at him wonderingly, as if to ask him whohe was. He answered to my thoughts affably. "I am your guide. You havecourted our intimacy, and sought to become our equal. Come with me, andI will initiate you into our mysteries and show you the lot for whichyou have so long been striving."
There was something so inviting in the old man's manner, something socharming in the calm and dignified look that superior intellectinvariably gives, that I could not but comply, and following my guide, Iwas conducted through long labyrinths of arches in silence, until Ireached the centre of the cavern, when I found myself in a vast hallformed by nature, or roughly hewn out of the natural rock, andilluminated by torches.
Here I saw a number of tables, and at each table sat one man. Theyappeared to be all engaged in chemistry, for each man had before him hiscrucibles and other instruments. So absorbed did they all seem in theirwork that not one of them noticed our entrance, although we weretalking loud enough for all to hear and our voices re-echoed through thecavern.
I tried to catch the eye of some of them in order to salute them, andperhaps to enter into conversation with them, but no one looked up.
I felt somewhat chilled at this reception, as it seemed to me that theymust have heard us, and purposely avoided looking up. My guide, whocould read all that was passing in my mind, responded to my thoughts.
"Be not grieved at their apparent want of civility, for they do not evensee you. These spirits see nothing and hear nothing but what isimmediately before them and connected with their pursuits. All you seehere are alchemists. In your terrestrial globe their sole delight was inthe endeavour to make gold. To this end they voluntarily imprisonedtheir spirits in one channel in order to concentrate the force of theirintellects towards the object of their pursuit.
"The development of their intellects alone at the expense of everythingelse that is human, was their desire in the world; their intellectsalone, therefore, after death remain engrossed in their one pursuit toall eternity, and they are both deaf and blind to all else."
"And will this be my lot?" I asked of my guide.
"That depends upon yourself," was the reply. "Your spirit is not soentirely separated from your body as to make your doom irrevocable. Inwhatever state you quit the world of the body, in that state the spiritremains to eternity. If the state of these spirits pleases you not,there is time to set your affections on another.
"Anon I will show you another class of alchemists. These that you haveseen are spirits who strive to make gold from love of science. Those Iwill show you now are those who have the love of gold for their aim, towhich they make science subservient."
My guide then conducted me through a long dark corridor of arches untilwe reached another hall lighted up in a similar manner to the first.Here were a number of spirits, each likewise occupied with his owncrucibles and apparatus, and paying no attention to those around him.The hall and the instruments used by the spirits of this second halldiffered little from those of hall the first, but the faces of the menwere different.
In the second hall the faces were less dignified and the skulls werebroader, each of them having a preternatural protuberance like an egg atthe temples, whilst the crown of their heads was flat. The heads ofthose of the first hall were higher, and their bearing more philosophic.
"I do not like the faces of those men," said I to my guide. "I dislikethe expression of greed depicted on their countenances. Remove me fromhence."
"I will now show you another order of spirits, also alchemists in theirway, since gold is their pursuit," and here he led me down a darksubterranean staircase, damp and cold, which I descended with difficultyon account of the slipperiness of the steps.
"This is no place for you," said my guide, "as I observe by yourcautious footsteps, yet many are they whose haste to enter at yon doormakes them rush down head foremost, regardless of the slime, and at therisk of breaking their necks."
By this time the hand of my guide was on the door, which he entered,leading me after him. I immediately found myself within a large andelegant hall, lighted up with the light of day, with columns andpavement of marble. Here was a crowd of men divided into groups, anddiscussing business. Others hurrying and bustling, jostling each otherin their haste, as they traversed the hall. The physiognomy of these menwas decidedly material. Sharp and shrewd many of them, but for the mostpart of that cold, stolid, matter of fact sort that defies you to readbeyond the surface.
As business and business men had little charm for me, my scrutiny of thespirits in this hall was less minute than my observation of the spiritsin the two previous halls, and my guide, observing an expression ofweariness in my countenance, said:
"I see these spirits interest you not. These are merchants, and men ofbusiness, who have made the acquisition of gold their chief delight inthe world, without using it merely as a means to an end; but let us passon."
We then entered a hall adjoining. Here was to be seen a long table, atwhich numbers were gambling. The faces of some of these were trulyhideous; others merely simple. It was easy with half an eye to discernthe dupe and the sharper. Faces indicative of the most sordid avaricejostled others of trusting simplicity. I saw to what class these spiritsbelonged, and, sickened at the sight, my guide led me by the hand andwithdrew me from the hall.
On leaving the gamblers we next found ourselves in a beautiful gardenwith terraces, fountains, beds of the choicest flowers, with a sunnylandscape beyond. In the centre of a velvet lawn was a motley group ofdancers, singers, and players on musical instruments. The dancers wereof both sexes, and many of them fair to view. They seemed to whirl roundin the giddy dance with true delight.
"These, at least," I said, "are happy. How they seem to enjoythemselves! Who would not be happy in the midst of such a beautifulscene?"
"These, my friend, are but deceptive joys," replied the sage, with asigh. "These, you see, are those who in the world have made pleasure thesole aim and object of their lives, and who, on entering the world ofspirits, still retain their former tastes."
I watched the group of dancers for a time; at first with pleasure, thenwith indifference, and lastly with a feeling akin to disgust mingledwith pity. Dancing and merry-making is all very well as an interlude tohard work, and doubtless did good both to mind and body, but when Ireflected that this trivial amusement had been the sole occupation oftheir lives in the world, and would continue to be so to all eternity,I turned away with a sigh. The whole scene seemed to me less beautifulthan before, though I could not observe that any change had taken placein the landscape, and an intense feeling of weariness came over me, withan inclination to yawn, which my guide observing, said:
"So you have soon become disenchanted with your realms of delight."
"You are right," said I; "lead me from the scene." Turning my back onthe dancers, I followed the old man, who led me over hill, down dale,through thicket and bramble, discoursing all the while the states ofvarious classes of spirits after death, till we reached a thick forestof old gnarled trees. Flanking the forest ran a river of molten gold. Istood upon the edge of a rock and looked down upon the river. Here Idescried a number of naked forms of both sexes bathing in the stream andsplashing each other with the liquid metal.
"Who are these?" I asked.
"These," said my guide, "are those who in the world found gold withoutseeking it, and possessing it in abundance, knew not how to make use ofit. Their sole delight was in wasting it. The same passion remains withthem after death."
I fell into a reverie.
"Is it possible
," thought I, "that these people have nothing at all todo with their money? Could they be in ignorance of the poverty thatsurrounded them whilst in the world? Even if they were selfish and didno good to the rest of their kind, is it possible that they had noprivate way of enjoying their worldly goods?"
"The spirits here in the world wasted their fortunes, but the ruin ofone fortune is the foundation of others, as you will see anon," said thesage.
He then pointed out to me some men, miserable looking and wretchedlyclad, who were crawling on their hands and knees in search of nuggets ofgold that the wanton bathers had thrown in a liquid state on to theshore, where it had cooled. Each of these wretched men had a bag whichhe filled with lumps of the yellow metal, and when it was full, carriedit on his shoulders, tottering under its weight, till he reached hishome.
"Neither do these men know the use of gold," said my guide, "for theyare misers, and their sole delight is to collect gold and to worship it,without doing good to themselves or others."
My curiosity was roused at this strange sight, and I followed these menwith my eyes, as a wide plain stretched itself out, and I being onelevated ground, could see to a great distance, for I wished to see howfar they could stagger under their enormous weight. No dwellingsappeared near at hand, and yet I was surprised to notice that one afterthe other these men suddenly disappeared. Many of them had started aboutthe same time laden with their sacks of gold, and not one of the manywas visible to me now on that broad open plain. Where could they haveall gone?
"I will tell you," said my companion, answering as usual to mythoughts. "These spirits, fearing lest their houses should be brokeninto and pillaged, burrow under the ground, where they can keep theirriches in security. They seldom show themselves in the daytime, but comeout of their holes at night like the owl in search of plunder. In theworld they lived by stealing, cheating, and getting money under falsepretences, and this is their lot after death. Their subterraneandwellings are paved and lined with gold, yet they are always wretched,for they know no other delight than to amass gold for its own sake."
I grew melancholy as I reflected on the lot of these men.
"At least my lot will not be with them," I said to myself. "I hope itcannot be said of me that I worship gold. If I have made the convertingof other metals into gold the study of my life, it was not for the sakeof the yellow metal, but from the pure love of science like thosephilosophers of the first halls."
"True," said my friend, in reply to my meditations, "and yet methinkstheir lot pleased you but little. The study of science for the sake ofscience and without other object, is little better than the grubbing ofgold for the sake of gold. Think you not that a man's life ought to havea little higher aim?"
"Certainly," said I, "that our studies may be useful to others, that ourdiscoveries may benefit mankind to the end, that we may become morecivilised, more intellectual, more virtuous, more moral."
"If then," replied the sage, "you admit this to be the true end of thelife of man, why do you persist in following the one study of convertingbaser metals into gold, which, if the secret is once made known, couldnot be of the slightest service to mankind at large, whilst you wouldonly reap the selfish and vain satisfaction of having discovered thesecret, whereas the precious time that has been wasted in this uselessstudy would have been better employed in experiments that might tend todiscoveries beneficial to the whole human race."
The argument of my venerable guide made a deep impression on me, and Ireflected a moment.
"Is it possible," thought I, "that all my life has been a mistake. HaveI mistaken mere vain and selfish ambition for that pure love of sciencethat dignifies and elevates the human mind? No," I answered to myself,"not exactly; and yet I have been mistaken in studying alchemy; forsurely we ought to consider the end of whatever study we pursue, whichend ought to be in some way or other useful to mankind at large. Now,supposing, after having wasted the energies of a lifetime in pursuit ofthe philosopher's stone, I had at length discovered the secret, it couldonly benefit myself, and my aim after all was no higher than that ofthose wretched spirits whose lot I shrank from. You are right, O sage. Iwill no longer waste my time and health in a fruitless study, buthenceforth devote myself to something that may benefit my fellowcreatures."
"You are fast growing wise," said the sage, replying to my thoughts;"keep to that resolution, and the comfort you will experience from theconsciousness that you have devoted your life to the welfare of yourrace will be the true alchemy, for it will be spiritual gold."
My heart yearned towards the kind old man at these words, and in anecstasy of affection and reverence as well as joy at having discoveredthe error of my life, I embraced him, begged him never to leave me, butbe ever with me--to guide me in wisdom; to be, in fact, a father to me,and I would follow his counsel as a son.
The kindly sage smiled benevolently on me, and replied:
"My son, our lots are different; at least, for the present. Recollectthat you are yet in the body, whilst I have for many ages back been allspirit. We must shortly part; you will return to the body until you arecalled from thence, whilst I must hasten to the society of spirits towhich I belong. Till then, however, I will be your guide, and give youwhat instruction I may in spiritual things."
I thanked him, and expressed my regret at having to part from him sosoon, and hoped we should meet again when our conditions became thesame. I then begged him as my time was short, to show me the lot ofspirits of a higher order, saying:
"You have shown me those who have sought gold from the love of scienceand those who have sought it from greed. Also those who, having gold,knew not how to use it. Now show me the lot of those who, born wealthy,have made the best use of their wealth."
"My son," said the sage, "those spirits are few in number and belong toa higher sphere. One direct from earth as yourself enters withdifficulty within that holy region. However, follow me."
Then there appeared to rise from the ground a sort of mist, whichthickened until it became a small but dense cloud. Upon this my guidealighted, leading me after him. We both of us trod the cloud beneath ourfeet, upon which we made no more impression than if our bodies had beenmade of the same ephemeral substance as the vapour we trod. The cloudthen commenced to rise, and slowly wafted us high in air, carrying usover trees and mountains as we discoursed together by the way. Movingupwards, yet not straight and suddenly, but describing wide circles inthe air, as if we were ascending a winding staircase, we foundourselves, after a time, in the midst of a large dense cloud, and ourmotion ceased.
By degrees the mist seemed to clear away, and I beheld a curiousphenomenon. I stood firmly, as if upon the solid earth, yet when Ilooked above me the earth appeared over my head, whilst the sky seemedunder my feet.
"What is the reason," I asked, "that in this planet or aerial dwellingof spirits, the laws of nature are reversed?"
"Your vision only is reversed," replied my guide, "because not being asyet entirely freed from the body, your spirit savours too much of clayto be in harmony with the spirits of this sphere. Everything in thespiritual world is a type, and has a hidden meaning. As the sky is atype of heaven, so the earth we tread is a type of material things. Thereason you see the earth above your head and the sky beneath your feet,is that you as yet place material things above spiritual things. It isdifficult for you, as a mortal, to do otherwise, and therefore yourvision is distorted. I can, however, while I am with you, communicate aportion of my being to you, sufficient for you to see objects as theyreally are."
He then touched my forehead, grasping my temples between his finger andthumb, when a new sensation came over me. It seemed as if I had beensuddenly lifted with the rapidity of lightning a mile or two higher inthe air, although my guide assured me that I had never moved from thespot I was standing on. I appeared to breathe more freely, andexperienced a most exhilarating feeling of buoyancy, with an intense andboundless expansion of mind.
The sky was now above my head and the earth beneath m
y feet, as in ourworld. I found myself surrounded by a beautiful landscape that wouldbaffle all my descriptive powers to give any adequate idea of. Trees,beautiful and curious, bearing fruit of gold, silver, or preciousstones, and of ferns that I had never seen in the world. Hills andvalleys of rich luxuriance, crags, waterfalls, lakes with islands,magnificent palaces of the purest white marble in a style ofarchitecture truly sublime. Human forms, surpassingly beautiful, of bothsexes and of all ages crossed me at intervals, from blooming andlaughing infancy to hoary but hale old age, each stage of life bearing amarked beauty of its own. Everyone seemed happy, and no one idle,although the occupations of some were of a quiet, meditative sort.
Philosophers discussed theories among themselves or taught wisdom to theyoung, who listened attentively. Children romped or indulged inamusements suitable to their age. Lovers passed and repassed, discussingtogether in earnest whisper. Here and there a solitary poet composed anode or landscape painter plied his art. The more I gazed on the scene,the more I became enraptured, for all was sunshine and content.
"How different," thought I, "is this to those false delusive joys that Ihave just witnessed in the lower world of spirits, and which I, in mybesotted ignorance, mistook for a paradise!"
Then my guide turning towards me said:
"I perceive that you are enchanted with this scene, that the beautyaround you surpasses your wildest imagination, and that you could neverdesire a paradise more delightful. These are those who in the world wereborn rich, or, at least, if not rich, used the little they possessed torelieve or promote the happiness and welfare of their kind, denyingthemselves luxuries or even necessities in order to enlarge the fieldof their charity, counting the dead pleasures of wealth as nothing incomparison with the satisfaction they derived from rendering happy theirpoorer neighbours. These are the angels of the lowest heaven, but thereare higher joys than these, which neither you nor I may ever bepermitted to witness."
So enraptured was I with all around me, that I hardly listened to thewords of my guide. I yearned to converse with some of the inhabitants ofthis paradise, but a feeling of shyness, owing to a consciousness ofinferiority, held me back.
The inhabitants even invited me to discourse with them, for they lookedon me kindly, as if waiting for me to address them. Maidens of mostheavenly beauty gazed upon me with sweet looks of chaste innocence.Lovely children seemed about to seize me by the hand to lead me away toplay, but on approaching nearer to me and perceiving that I was not oftheir heaven, scampered off half-terrified. One or two hospitablepersons came forward and offered to take me into their houses, and toshow me some of the public buildings, but my guide observing that agiddiness had seized me, owing to the excess of delight I experienced inthings so new to me, explained to them that I was yet a mortal onlytemporarily withdrawn from the body, and that a longer stay in thisregion might prove dangerous to me, as he had been commissioned to letme return shortly. My conductor then waved his hand courteously toeveryone by way of farewell, the good spirits also returning the salutewhile we descended more rapidly than we had ascended, and all around mebecame as before, a thick cloud. I felt nigh fainting with a singing inmy ears, but this vanished by degrees the farther I left the paradisebehind.
At length my senses being sufficiently recovered, I gazed around me; allwas mist still, but every now and then I observed certain curiousphenomena, visions which appeared and disappeared. Sometimes it was agarden or a building, sometimes an animal, a solitary tree or flowers. Iheard strains of music, voices, laughter. Sometimes a rose or otherflower fell at my feet, and immediately vanished; sometimes a toad orother reptile fell near me, and likewise vanished. Sometimes birds ofprey or fierce animals were seen striving with one another. Then again,fragments of distant landscape appeared and vanished.
None of these apparitions lasted beyond a few seconds.
Then turning to my guide, I said:
"Tell me, O sage, what is the meaning of all these appearances?"
To which the old man replied:
"These are all signs and symbols of things which in your world have novisible nor tangible existence, their essence being purely spiritual,yet which, nevertheless, in their own atmosphere--the spiritualworld--have a visible existence of their own. These are the thoughts ofmortals yet living in your world.
"We are fast approaching your earth, and therefore these appearancesbecome visible. The more beautiful of these visions, such as theflowers, landscape, and singing birds, are the representations of thepure thoughts and desires of the good; those of the less pleasing sort,such as the toads, adders, serpents, bats and owls, signify the evilthoughts of the wicked, and correspond to revenge, hatred, lust, murder,fraud, and the like.
"Where these wild beasts and reptiles appear in great numbers in thespirit world, and are seen combatting one with the other, it is a signof war on earth."
"But tell me why," I said, "I hear the sound of music yet see nomusicians, and hear the sound of voices yet see no one?"
Then my companion answered me: "The murky atmosphere through which weare now passing is also an inhabited world. The spirits of this worldare invisible to you because you are not altogether freed from thematerial veil which obscures your vision, and that veil thickens thenearer you approach earth. The thoughts of mortals become visible to youhere because you yourself are a mortal, but the thoughts of the purestmortal on your earth cannot arrive at the same pitch of sublimity as thethoughts of the meanest of disembodied spirits of this world, andtherefore the spirits themselves are invisible to you, although they arefar inferior to those you have just visited."
"Then why could I enter the angels' lower paradise, and yet am not ableto see these inferior spirits?" I asked.
"Because," replied my instructor, "your spirit then received sufficientlight from contact with mine to enable you to see them. I could also letyou see these, but why desire to see the lot of ordinary spirits afterhaving seen those of so far higher an order? It might remove theimpression, which I presume you wish to retain. Besides our time isshort, for we are near touching earth."
"True, true," I said hurriedly, for another vision suddenly arrested myattention. "Tell me, O my guide, what is the meaning of yon strangesight?" And strange sight it was indeed! For it was the vision of ahuman leg clad in the knee-breeches of our time, and walking about byitself.
"That," replied my preceptor, "is a portion of the body of some spiritnot as yet freed from clay, and for that reason it is made visible toyou. Our spirits on first leaving the material world are an exactcounterpart of our terrestrial bodies, being an essence filling everypart and particle of our earthly frames, from which they receive theirstamp. The body itself does not rise again as some of your worldvulgarly believed, but the spiritual body its counterpart, while theearthly covering but contributes its dust to your globe's surface."
"Then the vision I see is a portion of a human soul about to leave itsearthy tenement?" asked I.
"By no means," replied the sage. "The owner of that limb has yet someyears of material life before him, although, I observe, he is aged. Thereason that you see but the leg and not the rest of the body, is thatthat portion of the physical body is wanting. You cannot perceive hiscorporeal body because you are now in the spirit, and the spirit canonly see that which is spiritual, as likewise the material eye only thatwhich is material. You are sufficiently spiritual to see spirits who areyet encumbered with clay, but not enough so to see spirits perfectlydisembodied. On the other hand, being withdrawn from the body, you arenot yet sufficiently material to descry material bodies."
"Then in fact," I observed, "the vision that I see before me is thespirit leg of someone who in my world has lost his material leg?"
"Precisely so," the sage replied, "for mortals live in two worlds at thesame time; in the material world as to their bodies, in the spiritualworld as to their spirits. I should imagine," added he, regarding thevision fixedly, "from the way in which it seems to approach you that itbelonged to some friend or rel
ation of yours. Have you no relation inthe world who has lost a leg?" he asked.
"A relation who has lost a leg?" I exclaimed, for instantly my uncle,the admiral, flashed across my mind.
"Exactly so, your uncle, the admiral," he replied, reading my thoughts.
There was an individuality about the limb that from the beginningseemed familiar to me. It was a right leg, too, the very leg that myuncle had lost. There could be no mistake about it.
Then said I to my guide, "I recognise the leg, sure enough, but is itsappearance now a sign that he is near me in the body?"
"If not so, at least in thought," responded the sage.
By this time my companion told me that we had already arrived on earth,and said that he must now leave me, so we embraced, and he vanished frommy sight. Then the mist around me suddenly cleared away, and I wassurprised to find myself once again in my laboratory, seated in the sameold carved arm-chair, and surrounded by several persons.
Well, gentlemen, amongst those persons I instantly recognised a facelong familiar to me. It was my uncle's!
Poor old man! He had dreadfully changed. His iron grey hair had becomeperfectly white, his black eyebrows "a sable silvered." He stooped verymuch, and the muscles of his face were drooping and flaccid, while hisruby nose had lost its fine rich colour and faded into a sickly ashenhue. The individual next to him I recognised at once as our commonfriend, Mr. Langton. Then I saw a strange face which I concluded must bethe doctor. There was also my deaf and dumb boy, who had not longbrought up my basin of broth, as it was still steaming, and he wasawaiting my recovery.
Little more remains to be told. My poor uncle, as our friend Langton hadprophesied, had been obliged to sue for a divorce, shortly after whichhis worthless partner eloped with a paramour. The whole sad occurrencepreyed upon the old man's mind, and brought on a dangerous illness, fromwhich, however, he recovered. During his illness he had spoken much ofhis nephew, and on his recovery the doctor had recommended him a changeof scene to divert his mind. As he had expressed a wish to see hisnephew once more before he died, his friend Langton had offered toaccompany him. The doctor also formed one of the party, and they hadtravelled together to Jena as an agreeable surprise for me.
It is needless to add that all former differences were forgotten, andthat my old uncle resolved never to make a fool of himself again. Heeven encouraged his nephew's studies, and gave his sanction at lengththat my friend the chemist's son should join me in my studies. My healthrapidly improved under careful treatment, and I never saw any morevisions. I quite gave up alchemy, and applied myself to other branchesof chemistry. Nevertheless, my studies had not been quite useless, as inmy search after the philosopher's stone, I had made several very curiousdiscoveries in science, and my name soon became famous throughout theuniversity.
My uncle's illness had wrought as great a change morally as it had donephysically in him. His nature was completely changed. His treatment ofme was now of the kindest. He seemed even to respect me for theperseverance I had shown in my studies and to be ashamed of his formernarrow-minded notions. He remained with me at Jena until his health andmy health had completely recovered, when I accompanied him to England,where I once more saw my friend, the chemist's son, whom I subsequentlytook out with me to Jena, where we pursued our studies together for somethree years, after which we both returned to England, where I took up myquarters at my uncle's house.
The admiral lived a good ten years after his illness, and died at thegood old age of ninety, leaving to me his entire fortune.
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