第4部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

ual　lamp　that　obstructed　the　rays　in　their　passage。　Thecloser　you　perated　to　the　substance　of　his　mind；　the　sounder　itappeared。　When　no　longer　called　upon　to　speak；　or　listen；　either　ofwhich　operations　cost　him　an　evident　effort；　his　face　would　brieflysubside　into　its　former　not　uncheerful　quietude。　It　was　not　painful　tobehold　this　look；　for　though　dim；　it　had　not　the　imbecility　ofdecaying　age。　The　framework　of　his　nature；　originally　strong　andmassive；　was　not　yet　crumbled　into　ruin。 To　observe　and　define　his　character；　however；　under　suchdisadvantages；　was　as　difficult　a　task　as　to　trace　out　and　build　upanew；　in　imagination；　an　old　fortress；　like　Ticonderoga；　from　a　viewof　its　grey　and　broken　ruins。　Here　and　there；　perchance；　the　walls　mayremain　almost　plete；　but　elsewhere　may　be　only　a　shapeless　mound；cumbrous　with　its　very　strength；　and　overgrown；　through　long　yearsof　peace　and　neglect；　with　grass　and　alien　weeds。 Nevertheless；　looking　at　the　old　warrior　with　affection…　for；　slightas　was　the　munication　between　us；　my　feeling　towards　him；　like　thatof　all　bipeds　and　quadrupeds　who　knew　him；　might　not　improperly　betermed　so…　I　could　discern　the　main　points　of　his　portrait。　It　wasmarked　with　the　noble　and　heroic　qualities　which　showed　it　to　be　notby　a　mere　accident；　but　of　good　right；　that　he　had　won　a　distinguishedname。　His　spirit　could　never；　I　conceive；　have　been　characterised　byan　uneasy　activity；　it　must；　at　any　period　of　his　life；　haverequired　an　impulse　to　set　him　in　motion；　but；　once　stirred　up；　withobstacles　to　overe；　and　an　adequate　object　to　be　attained；　it　wasnot　in　the　man　to　give　out　or　fail。　The　beat　that　had　formerlypervaded　his　nature；　and　which　was　not　yet　extinct；　was　never　of　thekind　that　flashes　and　flickers　in　a　blaze；　but；　rather；　a　deep；　redglow