For all these years I have never been stirred, never felt a real throb of human emotion pass through me.
I had no time for it.

I had observed it in others, and I had vaguely wondered whether there was some want in me which prevented my sharing the experience of my fellow-mortals.

But now these last few days have taught me how keenly I can live--that I can have warm hopes, and deadly fears--that I can hate, and that I can--well, that I can have every strong feeling which the soul can experience.

I have come to life.

I may be on the brink of the grave, but at least I can say now that I have lived." "And why did you lead this soul-killing life in England ?" "I was ambitious--I wanted to get on.