Give work to the idle, freedom to the chained, sight to the blind!--Tell me a little about finer things than zoophytes--perhaps about the zoophytes as well--and you shall still be brave old Death, my good camp-comrade now for many a year." Was Major Campbell mad?
That depends upon the way in which the reader may choose to define the adjective.
Meanwhile Scoutbush had walked into Penalva Court--where an affecting scene of reconciliation took place?
Not in the least.

Scoutbush kissed Lucia, shook hands with Elsley, hugged the children, and then settled himself in an arm-chair, and talked about the weather, exactly as if he had been running in and out of the house every week for the last three years, and so the matter was done; and for the first time a _partie carree_ was assembled in the dining-room.
The evening passed off at first as uncomfortably as it could, where three out of the four were well-bred people.

Elsley was, of course, shy before Lord Scoutbush, and Scoutbush was equally shy before Elsley, though as civil as possible to him; for the little fellow stood in extreme awe of Elsley's talents, and was afraid of opening his lips before a poet.

Lucia was nervous for both their sakes, as well she might be; and Valencia had to make all the talking, and succeeded capitally in drawing out both her brother and her brother-in-law, till both of them found the other, on the whole more like other people than he had expected.

The next morning's breakfast, therefore, was easy and gracious enough: and when it was over, and Lucia fled to household matters-- "You smoke, Vavasour ?" asked Scoutbush.
Vavasour did not smoke.
"Really?
I thought poets always smoked.