to your wife and Mr。 Haggard。
Very sincerely yours；
Brother Basil。
When your book es out ＇Brother B。 here alludes to “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours”＇ I will make one of my sisters send it if it is not too long； I have not much time for reading； especially in summer。
It will be observed from the tenor of this letter that the writer is already almost lost in the monastic atmosphere。 He still retains his personal friendship for myself and is interested in one or two of his old associates； but all his earnest thought is given to his soul and its salvation。 The world is slipping away from him。 He even fears to read my forthing history lest it should be “too long” and take his time from his devotions and self…imposed physical labours； which could have been so much better done by any working man。
Eight years go by and there es another note； also apparently in answer to one from myself。 It is dated September 3； 1890。
Your good memory is very kind； and now that you have bee so famous； highly flattering。 I suppose in your judgment our regime ought to have improved me off the face of the globe； however here I am； by no means dead； and not even； I am sorry to say； in the sense of Colossians iii。 3 ＇“For ye are dead； and your life is hid with Christ in God。” — H。 R。 H。＇。 I should be delighted to see you again if you are able to e here； I have often wished to hear of our mutual friends。 Of you； of course； I have heard； and perused somee since you were here； it is startling to find that we are ten years older。 。 。 。 I hope Mrs。 R。 H。 not only lives but is well and happy。 Please give her my kind regards。
Always your sincere friend；
Brother Basil。
Both this letter and the one which remains are written in a somewhat different handwriting to those already quoted。 It is more careful and less natural。
The last letter； dated September 10； 1891； deals with the death of my son； of which I had written to Brother Basil。 I think； too； that I had sent him a copy of “Allan Quatermain；” which was dedicated to the boy and； after his death； contained his portrait。 Here is the portion of the letter that is essential。
You wrote to me when you came back from Africa； so I have had your son in mind when I have thought of you。 The idea of you as paterfamilias seemed very amusing。 So now there is an end of hopes。 Of course your loss is irreparable； even if you had another son he would not be the same。 Judging from his picture he must have been a very nice fellow。 I am afraid that in the reality of sorrow you have felt the “great breast of Nature” rather too hard to give rest。 What a curious irony that that introduction should have followed that dedication。 ＇The quotation here and the subsequent remark referred to the Introduction to “Allan Quatermain；” in which he laments the death of his only son。 — H。 R。 H。＇
Looking at matters from their point of view I don’t regret much the death of children。 They have been rightly baptised； and they are not old enough to stand in crying need of other sacraments。 I wish my prospects were as bright as your son’s。 Vae nobis quia peccavimus 。 。 。 。
Brother Basil。
I pass on to the end of the story； which the following letter tells。
Mt。 St。 Bernard’s Abbey： August 6； 1893。
Dear Sir； — The notice in the papers was unfortunately too true in the case of good Fr。 Basil。 He died in Rome on May 11th。
For some years he had been suffering from abscesses in different parts of the body； which the doctors considered showed a tendency to consumption； and they strongly remended a change of climate。 Last autumn it was arranged that he should go to Rome for a year or so。 Unhappily instead of improving he became worse； though not seriously so； until the first week in May； when the spine seems to have bee affected； and on the 8th he was seized with paralysis； and died； as I have said； on the 11th； the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord。
From accounts received； his death was most peaceful and happy； he being fully conscious and perfectly resigned to the Will of God。
When he left us he was Sub…Prior； and after being in Rome for a short time he was appointed Procurator…General for the whole Order。 His death has been a great loss to us here and to all the Members of the Reformed Cistercian body。
I am happy thus to testify to the high esteem in which he was held； and very numerous have been the letters received； expressing deep regret at his death； and the highest regard for him。
With every good wish；
I remain； dear sir；
Yours very truly in Christ；
C。 W。 Hipwood；
Abb。 O。C。R。
Thus ends the earthly story of my friend Justin Sheil； known in religion as Brother Basil； between whom and me； different as were our characters and our walks in life； there existed some curious affinity。 As he himself remarks； it is strange that a man of his pleasure…loving nature and somewhat sardonic vein of humour should have bee a Trappist monk and been well pleased with his choice。 To use his own words； this is indeed a mystery； one of those mysteries which appear to suggest that the human heart is much wider than it seems。 We see the point of an iceberg floating on the ocean and are apt to forget that hidden in its depths is a vast； unsuspected bulk。 So it may be with the nature of man。 We perceive its visible portion； we think we know it； we sum it up and declare that its character is this or that。 Nay； more； we declare it of our own natures wherewith we should be well acquainted。 And yet deep in the ocean of being floats the real nature； unmeasured； unsuspected； till perhaps； in some cataclysm of the soul； not all but a new portion of it is revealed； and that which was familiar is submerged。 Is every individuality in truth multiple？ Are reincarnationists right when they assert that only a part of it bees active in this world at one time — a part that we think the whole？ Who can tell？
It was a hard and dreadful life that he led； if measured by our standards； how hard only those who are familiar with the rules of the Trappists will rightly know。 Yet even in these iron bonds his native ability asserted itself； for just as he died he rose to high office in the Order while still a young man； though now； after eighteen years of silence more plete even than that in which he dwelt； probably he is forgotten。 Others pray where he prayed； think what he thought and fast as he fasted； till； worn out by privation and by the burning fire of spiritual ardour； they join him in his unrecorded grave。 So it has ever been with spirits like his own。 In Egypt I have seen the cells occupied by anchorites a thousand years before Christ was born。 On Tabir； Mount of the Transfiguration； I have stood in the living tombs of the hermits who dreamed away their long years； generation after generation of them； and hollowed the rock of the holy mountain with their nightly tossings。 In Tibet the lean and wasted claw of the immured； thrust through some hole to grasp the offering of food； advises the traveller that here； dead and yet breathing； dwells a holy man who thus seeks to propitiate the unanswering gods。 That which was； still is and shall be while the world endures； not in one religion but in many。
I make no excuse for the telling of this true tale； because it seems to me to constitute a human document of great interest。 It is not often that we have the opportunity of ing face to face with this kind of heart as it reveals itself in the foregoing letters。 Besides； any whom it does not interest can leave it unread。
May my dear friend’s prayer be fulfilled： may we meet again in some other phase of life and there learn the true reason of these matters； if a mon； erring man may hope to associate with a spirit so purified and — yes； so holy。 Peace be with him； but since I for one cannot believe that he and all mankind are the victims of a ghastly delusion； or are led forward by mocking marsh…fires of self…evolved aspirations to be lost in some bottomless gulf of death； I will not add — farewell。
To return to my own history。 When I reached home everyone was very glad to see me； especially my mother； but my father did not wele my reappearance with whole…hearted enthusiasm。 He remarked with great candour that I should probably bee “a waif and a stray；” or possibly — my taste for writing being already known — “a miserable penny…a…liner。” I am sure I do not wonder at his irritation； which； were I in his place today； I should certainly share。 He saw that I had thrown up my billet and he had no faith in the possibilities of African farming。
All of these things； and others； he told me in the course of a row which arose over the loss of a gigantic turtle which I had brought home from the Island of Ascension； where I had visited my brother John； who at that time was first…lieutenant of H。M。S。 Flora。 The Island of Ascension； by the way； where they catch these turtles on the beach and store them in tanks； is a very interesting spot； for there one sees a part of the world in the making。 On the top of a peak is a green area of soil that I presume owes its origin to the droppings of sea…birds。 Below is bare rock。 This area must have been formed within recent times； say during the last 500；000 years； and in another million or so of years doubtless it will have spread all over the island。 The processes of nature are distinctly slow。
In some mysterious way my turtle got lost in the London Docks。 Personally I thought the occurrence fortunate； for what would have been done with the creature if I had succeeded in conveying it safely to Bradenham Hall still alive and flapping； I cannot conceive。 Imagine the local butcher confronted with a turtle； imagine the domestic cook and the quantities of soup that would have resulted； if it ever got so far as soup！ I pointed all this out to my father； but he took another view。 He wanted his turtle and said so； often； and alas！ it had vanished in the London Docks。 Probably a steward sold it to a City pany on the sly。 A sportive passenger on the ship made a rhyme on the matter。 It began：
’Tis true； O my Father； from distant lands I’ve e； a bad penny； back on your hands； But when once you have tasted this nice green fat； You won’t care； O my parent； one kipper for that。
The trouble was that he never did “taste that nice green fat。”
However