witness, at least, to a variety of human disposition and a consequent
variety of mental view, which might--who can tell?--be correspondent
to, be defined by and define, varieties of facts, of truths, just
"behind the veil," regarding the world all alike had actually before
them as their original premiss or starting-point; a world, wider,
perhaps, in its possibilities than all possible fancies concerning
it.

NOTES

75. Joel 2.28.

81. +Halcyone.



CHAPTER XXI: TWO CURIOUS HOUSES

II. THE CHURCH IN CECILIA'S HOUSE

"Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see
visions."

[92] CORNELIUS had certain friends in or near Rome, whose household,
to Marius, as he pondered now and again what might be the determining
influences of that peculiar character, presented itself as possibly
its main secret--the hidden source from which the beauty and strength
of a nature, so persistently fresh in the midst of a somewhat jaded
world, might be derived. But Marius had never yet seen these
friends; and it was almost by accident that the veil of reserve was