Grave men, in the absence of my uncle, often applied to me for information and advice, which I felt proud and happy in being able to supply.
Thus, I found that in serving my employer faithfully, I conferred the greatest benefit on myself; and the hours devoted to study, while they formed a pleasant recreation from the day labours of the office, were among the happiest and most sinless of my life.
I was seldom admitted into my uncle's drawing-room, and never allowed to mingle with evening parties, which, during the brief visits of Theophilus to his home, were not only frequent, but very brilliant.
This I felt as a great hardship.

My solitary and companionless youth had deeply imbued my mind with romance.

I was fond of castle-building; I pictured to myself the world as a paradise, and fancied that I was an illustrious actor in scenes of imaginary splendour, which bore no analogy to the dull realities of my present life.
I was a dreamer of wild dreams, and suffered my enthusiasm to get the master of reason, and betray me into a thousand absurdities.

My love for poetry and music was excessive.

I played upon the flute by ear, and often when alone dissipated my melancholy thoughts by breathing them into the instrument.
Through this medium, Harrison became an adept at discovering the state of my feelings.