"No; never."
"Then for private perusal among a circle of friends."
"Just as little. I scarcely know three people in the world who would acknowledge that title."
"You had an object, however, in composing it?"
"Yes; to occupy thought; to save me from—from—" I hesitated, for I was ashamed of the confession that nearly burst from me, and, after a pause, I said, "from being such as I now am?"
"You wrote it for yourself alone, then?"
"Yes."
"Unprompted; without any suggestions from another?"
"Is it here?" said I, looking around my cell, "Is it here that I should be likely to find a fellow-laborer?"
"No; but I mean to ask, were the sentiments your own, without any external influence, or any persuasions from others?"