His theme was
the virtue of Compassion; he appeared to rate it above all other
forms of moral goodness, to regard it as the saving principle of
human life.
'If only we had pity on one another, all the worst things we suffer
from in this world would be at an end. It's because men's hearts are
hard that life is so full of misery. If we could only learn to be
kind and gentle and forgiving--never mind anything else. We act as
if we were all each other's enemies; we can't be merciful, because
we expect no mercy; we struggle to get as much as we can for
ourselves and care nothing for others. Think about it; never let it
go out of your mind. Perhaps some day it'll help you in your own
life.'
Then there was silence again. Snowdon went back to his scat by the
window and relit his pipe; to muse in the sunshine seemed sufficient
occupation for him. Jane opened another book and read to herself.
In the afternoon they went out together. The old man had grown more
talkative. He passed cheerfully from subject to subject, now telling
a story of his experiences abroad, now reviving recollections of
London as he had known it sixty years ago.
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