III

Herbert returned to us in March. The Young Lady was spending thewinter with us, and March, in spite of the calendar, turned out to bea winter fortnight. It usually is in New England, and April too, forthat matter. And I cannot say it is unfortunate for us. There areso many topics to be turned over and settled at our fireside that awinter of ordinary length would make little impression on the list.The fireside is, after all, a sort of private court of chancery,where nothing ever does come to a final decision. The chief effectof talk on any subject is to strengthen one's own opinions, and, infact, one never knows exactly what he does believe until he is warmedinto conviction by the heat of attack and defence. A man left tohimself drifts about like a boat on a calm lake; it is only when thewind blows that the boat goes anywhere.