He asked for some volumes from the library. He would read, and he
sent the faithful and adoring Brome to request Miss Clinker to send him
up the third and fourth volume of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire." He often turned to Gibbon when he was at war with things. The
perfect balance of the English soothed him--and he felt he would read of
Julian, for whom in his heart he felt a sympathy.
Arabella brought the volumes herself, and placed them on his table, and
then went to settle some roses in a vase before she left the room.
A thin slip of paper fell out of one of the books as he opened it, and
he read it absently while he turned the pages.
On the top was a date in pencil, and in a methodical fashion there was
written in red ink:
"Notes for the instruction of M. E.," and then underneath, "Subjects to
be talked of at dinner to-night--Was there cause for Julian's apostasy?
What appealed most to Julian in the old religions--etc., etc."
For a second the words conveyed no meaning to his brain, and for
something to say, he said aloud to Arabella: "This is your writing, I
think, Miss Clinker.
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