"Were they?" said Ellen. "I thought he was so very fine in everything; and I should be sorry to think he was not."
"Look over the book again by all means, with a more critical eye; and when you have done so, you shall give me your cool estimate of his character."
"O me!" said Ellen. "Well but I don't know whether I can give you a cool estimate of him however, I'll try. I cannot think coolly of him now, just after Trafalgar. I think it was a shame that Collingwood did not anchor as Nelson told him to; don't you? I think he might have been obeyed while he was living at least."
"It is difficult," said John, smiling, "to judge correctly of many actions without having been on the spot, and in the circumstances of the actors. I believe you and I must leave the question of Trafalgar to more nautical heads."
"How pleasant this moonlight is!" said Ellen.
"What makes it pleasant?"
"What makes it pleasant! I don't know; I never thought of such a thing. It is made to be pleasant I can't tell why; can anybody?"
"The eye loves light for many reasons; but all kinds of light are not equally agreeable. What makes the peculiar charm of these long streams of pale light across the floor? and the shadowy brightness without?"
"You must tell," said Ellen; "I cannot."
"You know we enjoy anything much more by contrast; I think that is one reason. Night is the reign of darkness, which we do not love; and here is light struggling with the darkness, not enough to overcome it entirely, but yet banishing it to nooks and corners, and distant parts, by the side of which it shows itself in contrasted beauty. Our eyes bless the unwonted victory."