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and of him also I must say something。 Charles O'Brien was a young man
about twenty…five years of age； who had sent out from his studio in the
preceding year a certain bust supposed by his admirers to be unsurpassed
by any effort of ancient or modern genius。 I am no judge of sculpture； and
will not therefore pronounce an opinion； but many who considered
themselves to be judges declared that it was a 〃goodish head and
shoulders〃 and nothing more。 I merely mention the fact； as it was on the
strength of that head and shoulders that O'Brien separated himself from a
throng of others such as himself in Rome； walked solitary during the days；
and threw himself at the feet of various ladies when the days were over。
He had ridden on the shoulders of his bust into a prominent place in our
circle； and there encountered much feminine admirationfrom Mrs。
General Talboys and others。
Some eighteen or twenty of us used to meet every Sunday evening in
Mrs。 Mackinnon's drawing…room。 Many of us； indeed； were in the habit of
seeing one another daily and of visiting together the haunts in Rome which
are best loved by art…loving strangers； but here in this drawing…room we
were sure to come together； and here before the end of November Mrs。
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Talboys might always be found； not in any accustomed seat； but moving
about the room as the different male mental attractions of our society
might chance to move themselves。 She was at first greatly taken by
Mackinnon； who also was； I think； a little stirred by her admiration；
though he stoutly denied the charge。 She became； however； very dear to us
all before she left us； and certainly we owed to her our love； for she added
infinitely to the joys of our winter。
〃I have come here to refresh myself；〃 she said to Mackinnon one
eveningto Mackinnon and myself； for we were standing together。
〃Shall I get you tea？〃 said I。
〃And will you have something to eat？〃 Mackinnon asked。
〃No； no； no；〃 she answered。 〃Tea； yes； but for heaven's sake let
nothing solid dispel the associations of such a meeting as this！〃
〃I thought you might have dined early；〃 said Mackinnon。 Now
Mackinnon was a man whose own dinner was very dear to him。 I have
seen him become hasty and unpleasant； even under the pillars of the
Forum； when he thought that the party were placing his fish in jeopardy by
their desire to linger there too long。
〃Early！ Yesno； I know not when it was。 One dines and sleeps in
obedience to that dull clay which weighs down so generally the particle of
our spirit； but the clay may sometimes be forgotten； here I can always
forget it。〃
〃I thought you asked for refreshment；〃 I said。 She only looked at me；
whose small attempts at prose composition had up to that time been
altogether unsuccessful； and then addressed herself to reply to Mackinnon。
〃It is the air which we breathe that fills our lungs and gives us life and
light； it is that which refreshes us if pure or sinks us into stagnation if it be
foul。 Let me for a while inhale the breath of an invigorating literature。 Sit
down； Mr。 Mackinnon； I have a question that I must put to you。〃 And then
she succeeded in carrying him off into a corner。 As far as I could see he
went willingly enough at that time； though he soon became averse to any
long retirement in company with Mrs。 Talboys。
We none of us quite understood what were her exact ideas on the
subject of revealed religion。 Somebody； I think； had told her that there
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were among us one or two whose opinions were not exactly orthodox
according to the doctrines of the established English church。 If so she was
determined to show us that she also was advanced beyond the prejudices
of an old and dry school of theology。 〃I have thrown down all the barriers
of religion；〃 she said to poor Mrs。 Mackinnon； 〃and am looking for the
sentiments of a pure Christianity。〃
〃Thrown down all the barriers of religion！〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon； in a
tone of horror which was not appreciated。
〃Indeed； yes；〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； with an exulting voice。 〃Are not the
days for such trammels gone by？〃
〃But yet you hold by Christianity？〃
〃A pure Christianity； unstained by blood and perjury； by hypocrisy and
verbose genuflection。 Can I not worship and say my prayers among the
clouds？〃 And she pointed to the lofty ceiling and the handsome chandelier。
〃But Ida goes to church；〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon。 Ida Talboys was her
daughter。 Now it may be observed that many who throw down the barriers
of religion； so far as those barriers may affect themselves； still maintain
them on behalf of their children。 〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； 〃dear Ida！ her
soft spirit is not yet adapted to receive the perfect truth。 We are obliged to
govern children by the strength of their prejudices。〃 And then she moved
away； for it was seldom that Mrs。 Talboys remained long in conversation
with any lady。
Mackinnon； I believe； soon became tired of her。 He liked her flattery；
and at first declared that she was clever and nice； but her niceness was too
purely celestial to satisfy his mundane tastes。 Mackinnon himself can revel
among the clouds in his own writings； and can leave us sometimes in
doubt whether he ever means to come back to earth； but when his foot is
on terra firma he loves to feel the earthy substratum which supports his
weight。 With women he likes a hand that can remain an unnecessary
moment within his own； an eye that can glisten with the sparkle of
champagne； a heart weak enough to make its owner's arm tremble within
his own beneath the moonlight gloom of the Colosseum arches。 A dash of
sentiment the while makes all these things the sweeter； but the sentiment
alone will not suffice for him。 Mrs。 Talboys did； I believe； drink her glass
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of champagne； as do other ladies； but with her it had no such pleasing
effect。 It loosened only her tongue； but n