II. BERNARDINE BEGINS HER BOOK
III. FAILURE AND SUCCESS: A PROLOGUE
IV. THE DISAGREEABLE MAN GIVES UP HIS FREEDOM
V. THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE




SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT.


PART I.


CHAPTER I.

A NEW-COMER.


"YES, indeed," remarked one of the guests at the English table, "yes,
indeed, we start life thinking that we shall build a great cathedral,
a crowning glory to architecture, and we end by contriving a mud hut!"

"I am glad you think so well of human nature," said the Disagreeable Man,
suddenly looking up from the newspaper which he always read during meal-
time. "I should be more inclined to say that we end by being content to
dig a hole, and get into it, like the earth men."

A silence followed these words; the English community at that end of the
table was struck with astonishment at hearing the Disagreeable Man speak.