needs demanded； and thus was enabled to see something of foreign countries。 Naturally a man of independent and rather scornful outlook； he had suffered much from defeated ambition； from disillusions of many kinds； from subjection to grim necessity； the result of it； at the time of which I am speaking； was； certainly not a broken spirit； but a mind and temper so sternly disciplined； that； in ordinary intercourse with him； one did not know but that he led a calm； contented life。 Only after several years of friendship was I able to form a just idea of what the man had gone through； or of his actual existence。 Little by little Ryecroft had subdued himself to a modestly industrious routine。 He did a great deal of mere hack…work； he reviewed； he translated； he wrote articles； at long intervals a volume appeared under his name。 There were times； I have no doubt； when bitterness took hold upon him； not seldom he suffered in health； and probably as much from moral as from physical over…strain； but； on the whole； he earned his living very much as other men do； taking the day's toil as a matter of course； and rarely grumbling over it。
Time went on； things happened； but Ryecroft was still laborious and poor。 In moments of depression he spoke of his declining energies； and evidently suffered under a haunting fear of the future。 The thought of dependence had always been intolerable to him； perhaps the only boast I at any time heard from his lips was that he had never incurred debt。