; perhaps before the end a good many; -
I hope so. And though of course I cannot force any special kind of knowledge
upon them, yet, my friend, I cannot help thinking that just as they might be
like me in body, so I might impress upon them some part of my ways of thinking;
that is, indeed, some of the essential part of myself; that part which was not
mere moods, created by the matters and events round about me. What do you
think?«
    Of one thing I was sure, that her beauty and kindness and eagerness
combined, forced me to think as she did, when she was not earnestly laying
herself open to receive my thoughts. I said, what at the time was true, that I
thought it most important; and presently stood entranced by the wonder of her
grace as she stepped into the light boat, and held out her hand to me. And so on
we went up the Thames still - or whither?
 

                                  Chapter XXX

                                        

                               The Journey's End

On we went. In spite of my new-born excitement about Ellen, and my gathering
fear of where it would land me, I could not help taking abundant interest in the
condition of the river and its banks; all the more as she never seemed weary of
the changing picture, but looked at every yard of flowery bank and gurgling eddy
with the same kind of affectionate interest which I myself once had so fully, as
I used to think, and perhaps had not altogether lost even in this strangely
changed society with all its wonders. Ellen seemed delighted with my pleasure at
this, that, or the other piece of carefulness in dealing with the river: the
nursing of pretty corners; the ingenuity in dealing with difficulties of
water-engineering, so that the most obviously useful works looked beautiful and
natural also. All this, I say, pleased me hugely, and she was pleased at my
pleasure - but rather puzzled too.
    »You seem astonished,« she said, just after we had passed a mill2 which
spanned all the stream save the water-way for traffic, but which was as
beautiful in its way as a Gothic cathedral - »You seem astonished at this being
so pleasant to look at.«
    »Yes,« I said, »in a way I am; though I don't see why it should not be.«
    »Ah!« she said, looking at me admiringly, yet with a lurking smile in her
face, »you know all about the history of the past. Were they not always