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these？ Clearly not。
Morgan's pursuit comes next in order of reviewa pursuit of a
far more ambitious nature than mine。 It was always part of my
second brother's whimsical； self…contradictory character to view
with the profoundest contempt the learned profession by which he
gained his livelihood； and he is now occupying the long leisure
hours of his old age in composing a voluminous treatise；
intended； one of these days； to eject the whole body corporate of
doctors from the position which they have usurped in the
estimation of their fellow…creatures。 This daring work is
entitled 〃An Examination of the Claims of Medicine on the
Gratitude of Mankind。 Decided in the Negative by a Retired
Physician。〃 So far as I can tell； the book is likely to extend to
the dimensions of an Encyclopedia； for it is Morgan's plan to
treat his comprehensive subject principally from the historical
point of view； and to run down all the doctors of antiquity； one
after another； in regular succession； from the first of the
tribe。 When I last heard of his progress he was hard on the heels
of Hippocrates； but had no immediate prospect of tripping up his
successor； Is this the sort of occupation （I ask myself） in which
a modern young lady is likely to feel the slightest interest？
Once again； clearly not。
Owen's favorite employment is； in its way； quite as
characteristic as Morgan's； and it has the great additional
advantage of appealing to a much larger variety of tastes。 My
eldest brothergreat at drawing and painting when he was a lad；
always interested in artists and their works in after lifehas
resumed； in his declining years； the holiday occupation of his
schoolboy days。 As an amateur landscape…painter； he works with
more satisfaction to himself； uses more color； wears out more
brushes； and makes a greater smell of paint in his studio than
any artist by profession； native or foreign； whom I ever met
with。 In look； in manner； and in disposition； the gentlest of
mankind； Owen； by some singular anomaly in his character； which
he seems to have caught from Morgan； glories placidly in the
wildest and most frightful range of subjects which his art is
capable of representing。 Immeasurable ruins； in howling
wildernesses； with blood…red sunsets gleaming over them；
thunder…clouds rent with lightning； hovering over splitting trees
on the verges of awful precipices； hurricanes； shipwrecks； waves；
and whirlpools follow each other on his canvas； without an
intervening glimpse of quiet everyday nature to relieve the
succession of pictorial horrors。 When I see him at his easel； so
neat and quiet； so unpretending and modest in himself； with such
a composed expression on his attentive face； with such a weak
white hand to guide such bold； big brushes； and when I look at
the frightful canvasful of terrors which he is serenely
aggravating in fierceness and intensity with every successive
touch； I find it difficult to realize the connection between my
brother and his work； though I see them before me not six inches
apart。 Will this quaint spectacle possess any humorous
attractions for Miss Jessie？ Perhaps it may。 There is some slight
chance that Owen's employment will be lucky enough to interest
her。
Thus far my morning cogitations advance doubtfully enough； but
they altogether fail in carrying me beyond the narrow circle of
The Glen Tower。 I try hard； in our visitor's interest； to look
into the resources of the little world around us； and I find my
efforts rewarded by the prospect of a total blank。
Is there any presentable living soul in the neighborhood whom we
can invite to meet her？ Not one。 There are； as I have already
said； no country seats near us； and society in the county town
has long since learned to regard us as three misanthropes；
strongly suspected； from our monastic way of life and our dismal
black costume； of being popish priests in disguise。 In other
parts of England the clergyman of the parish might help us out of
our difficulty； but here in South Wales； and in this latter half
of the nineteenth century； we have the old type parson of the
days of Fielding still in a state of perfect preservation。 Our
local clergyman receives a stipend which is too paltry to bear
comparison with the wages of an ordinary mechanic。 In dress；
manners； and tastes he is about on a level with the upper class
of agricultural laborer。 When attempts have been made by
well…meaning gentlefolks to recognize the claims of his
profession by asking him to their houses； he has been known； on
more than one occasion； to leave his plowman's pair of shoes in
the hall； and enter the drawing…room respectfully in his
stockings。 Where he preaches； miles and miles away from us and
from the poor cottage in which he lives； if he sees any of the
company in the squire's pew yawn or fidget in their places； he
takes it as a hint that they are tired of listening； and closes
his sermon instantly at the end of the sentence。 Can we ask this
most irreverend and unclerical of men to meet a young lady？ I
doubt； even if we made the attempt； whether we should succeed； by
fair means； in getting him beyond the servants' hall。
Dismissing； therefore； all idea of inviting visitors to entertain
our guest； and feeling； at the same time； more than doubtful of
her chance of discovering any attraction in the sober society of
the inmates of the house； I finish my dressing and go down to
breakfast； secretly veering round to the housekeeper's opinion
that Miss Jessie will really bring matters to an abrupt
conclusion by running away。 I find Morgan as bitterly resigned to
his destiny
as ever； and Owen so affectionately anxious to make himself of
some use； and so lamentably ignorant of how to begin； that I am
driven to disembarrass myself of him at the outset by a
stratagem。
I suggest to him that our visitor is sure to be interested in
pictures； and that it would be a pretty attention； on his part；
to paint her a landscape to hang up in her room。 Owen brightens
directly； informs me in his softest tones that he is then at work
on the Earthquake at Lisbon； and inquires whether I think she
would like that subject。 I preserve my gravity sufficiently to
answer in the affirmative； and my brother retires meekly to his
studio； to depict the engulfing of a city and the destruction of
a population。 Morgan withdraws in his turn to the top of the
tower； threatening； when our guest comes； to draw all his meals
up to his new residence by means of a basket and string。 I am
left alone for an hour； and then the upholsterer arrives from the
county town。
This worthy man； on being informed of our emergency； sees his
way； apparently； to a good stroke of business； and thereupon wins
my lasting gratitude by taking； in opposition to every one else；
a bright and hopeful view of existing circumstances。
〃You'll excuse me； sir；〃 he says； confidentially； when I show him
the rooms in the lean…to； 〃but this is a matter of experience。
I'm a family man myself； with grown…up daughters of my own； and
the natures of young women are well known to me。 Make their rooms
comfortable； and you make 'em happy。 Surround their lives； sir；
with a su