Theinteriorwasnoble，andtherewasanairofscholarlyquietandofletteredeleganceinthelibrary，wherethehostreceivedhisguests，whichseemedtopervadethewholehouse，andwhichmadeitsappealtotheimaginationofoneofthemmostpotently。Itseemedtomethattobemasterofsuchcircumstanceandkeepingwouldbeenoughoflifeinacertainway；anditalllingersinmymemoryyet，asifitwereonewiththegentlecourtesywhichwelcomedme。
Amongmyfellow—guestsonenightwasGeorgeS。Hillard，nowafadedreputation，andeventhenalifedefeatedofthehighexpectationofitsyouth。Idonotknowwhetherhis’SixMonthsinItaly’stillkeepsitselfinprint；butitwasabookonceverywellknown；andhewasperhapsthemoregracioustome，asourhostwas，becauseofourcommonItalianbackground。HewasoftheoldSilver—grayWhigsocietytoo，andIsupposethatorderofthingsimparteditstonetowhatIfeltandsawinthatplace。Thecivilwarhadcomeandgone，andthatorderacceptedtheresultifnotwithfaith，thenwithpatience。ThereweretwoyoungEnglishnoblementherethatnight，whohadbeentravellingintheSouth，andwhosestoriesofthewretchedconditionstheyhadseenmovedourhosttosomeopenmisgiving。ButtheEnglishmenhadnoquestion；inspiteofall，theydefendedtheaccomplishedfact，andwhenIventuredtosaythatnowatleasttherecouldbeahopeofbetterthings，whiletheoldorderwasonlytheperpetuationofdespair，hemildlyassented，withagestureofthehandthatwaivedthepoint，andadeeplysighed，\"Perhaps；
perhaps。\"
Hewasapresenceofgreatdignity，whichseemedtorecallthepastwithasteadfastallegiance，andyettorelaxitselftowardsthepresentinthewisdomoftheaccumulatedyears。Hiswholelifehadbeenpassedindevotiontopoliteliteratureandinthesocietyofthepoliteworld；andhewasatypeofscholarsuchasonlythecircumstancesofBostoncouldform。ThosecircumstancescouldaloneformsuchanothertypeasQuincy；
andIwishIcouldhavefeltthenasIdonowtheadvantageofmeetingthemsocontemporaneously。