'
As he spoke he emerged from the grove into the street. The joyous
sunlight--a stranger to him for years--shone warmly down upon his face,
as if to welcome him to liberty and the world. The sounds of gay
laughter rang in his ears, as if to woo him back to the blest enjoyments
and amenities of life; but Nature's influence and man's example were now
silent alike to his lonely heart. Over its dreary wastes still reigned
the ruthless ambition which had exiled love from his youth, and
friendship from his manhood, and which was destined to end its mission
of destruction by banishing tranquility from his age. Scowling fiercely
at all around and above him, he sought the loneliest and shadiest
streets. Solitude had now become a necessity to his heart. The 'great
gulph' of his unshared aspirations had long since socially separated him
for ever from his fellow-men. He thought, laboured, and suffered for
himself alone.
To describe the years of unrewarded labour and unalleviated hardship
endured by Ulpius in the place of his punishment; to dwell on the day
that brought with it--whatever the season in the world above--the same
unwearying inheritance of exertion and fatigue; to chronicle the history
of night after night of broken slumber one hour, of wearying thought the
next, would be to produce a picture from the mournful monotony of which
the attention of the reader would recoil with disgust.
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