The youth felt the nervous tension in the elder man's voice and manner, was startled by a confidence never before bestowed upon him, close as that unequal bond between them had been growing during the six months of his Oxford life, and plucking up courage hurled at him a number of frank, young expostulations, which really put into friendly shape all that was being said about Langham in his College and in the University.

Why was he so self-distrustful, so absurdly diffident of responsibility, so bent on hiding his great gifts under a bushel?
The tutor smiled sadly, and, sitting down, buried his head in his hands and said nothing for a while.

Then he looked up and stretched out a hand toward a book which lay on a table near.

It was the 'Reveries' of Senancour.

'My answer is written _here_,' he said.