--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stephen had been put to sleep in his…" description: "\"“Stephen had been put to sleep in his usual room, far from children and noise, away in that corner of the house which looked down to the orchard and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/patrick-o-brian-2283_children_stephen-had-been-put-to-sleep-in-his-usu_667156.png" --- # Stephen had been put to sleep in his usual room, far from… ![“Stephen had been put to sleep in his usual room, far from children and noise, away in that corner of the house which looked down to the orchard and the bowling-green, and in spite of his long absence it was so familiar to him that when he woke at about three he made his way to the window almost as…” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/patrick-o-brian-2283_children_stephen-had-been-put-to-sleep-in-his-usu_667156.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/patrick-o-brian-2283_children_stephen-had-been-put-to-sleep-in-his-usu_667156.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/487/patrick-o-brian-2283_children_stephen-had-been-put-to-sleep-in-his-usu_667156.png) > ““Stephen had been put to sleep in his usual room, far from children and noise, away in that corner of the house which looked down to the orchard and the bowling-green, and in spite of his long absence it was so familiar to him that when he woke at about three he made his way to the window almost as quickly as if dawn had already broken, opened it and walked out onto the balcony. The moon had set: there was barely a star to be seen. The still air was delightfully fresh with falling dew, and a late nightingale, in an indifferent voice, was uttering a routine jug-jug far down in Jack's plantations; closer at hand and more agreeable by far, nightjars churred in the orchard, two of them, or perhaps three, the sound rising and falling, intertwining so that the source could not be made out for sure. There were few birds that he preferred to nightjars, but it was not they that had brought him out of bed: he stood leaning on the balcony rail and presently Jack Aubrey, in a summer-house by the bowling-green, began again, playing very gently in the darkness, improvising wholly for himself, dreaming away on his violin with a mastery that Stephen had never heard equalled, though they had played together for years and years. Like many other sailors Jack Aubrey had long dreamed of lying in his warm bed all night long; yet although he could now do so with a clear conscience he often rose at unChristian hours, particularly if he were moved by strong emotion, and crept from his bedroom in a watch-coat, to walk about the house or into the stables or to pace the bowling-green. Sometimes he took his fiddle with him. He was in fact a better player than Stephen, and now that he was using his precious Guarnieri rather than a robust sea-going fiddle the difference was still more evident: but the Guarnieri did not account for the whole of it, nor anything like. Jack certainly concealed his excellence when they were playing together, keeping to Stephen's mediocre level: this had become perfectly clear when Stephen's hands were at last recovered from the thumb-screws and other implements applied by French counter-intelligence officers in Minorca; but on reflexion Stephen thought it had been the case much earlier, since quite apart from his delicacy at that period, Jack hated showing away. Now, in the warm night, there was no one to be comforted, kept in countenance, no one could scorn him for virtuosity, and he could let himself go entirely; and as the grave and subtle music wound on and on, Stephen once more contemplated on the apparent contradiction between the big, cheerful, florid sea-officer whom most people liked on sight but who would have never been described as subtle or capable of subtlety by any one of them (except perhaps his surviving opponents in battle) and the intricate, reflective music he was now creating. So utterly unlike his limited vocabulary in words, at times verging upon the inarticulate. 'My hands have now regained the moderate ability they possessed before I was captured,' observed Maturin, 'but his have gone on to a point I never thought he could reach: his hands and his mind. I am amazed. In his own way he is the secret man of the world.”” [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A night scene where Stephen awakens, drawn by music and nature, reflecting on longing, artistry, and the quiet moments that stir deep emotion. **In simple terms:** Stephen is moved by music and night sounds, revealing inner longing and appreciation for beauty. Key Takeaway Notice how art and nature can awaken hidden feelings. Themes longing artistry night solitude music Mood reflective melancholic inspired Type literary descriptive contemplative When to use this quote - late-night reflection - listening to music - walking in nature - contemplating personal aspirations Key Concepts Aesthetic appreciation emotional resonance contrast between skill and humility Questions to Reflect On - What does the music awaken in Stephen? - How do night sounds shape our inner world? A Different Perspective The scene may romanticize solitude, overlooking practical responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clear conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-conscience/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, I will wear the bees, like Damon and Pythagoras – ho, a mere sixty thousand bees in the cabin don't signify, much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/well-i-will-wear-the-bees-like-damon-and-pythagoras-ho-a-mere-sixty/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“It was an operation that Dr. Maturin had carried out at sea before, always in the fullest possible light and therefore on deck, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-an-operation-that-dr-maturin-had-carried-out-at-sea-before/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“I should send my bees ashore for you, upon my sacred honour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/i-should-send-my-bees-ashore-for-you-upon-my-sacred-honour/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Me and Devin have never hid the fact that us playing together would be a dream come true. 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The moon had set: there was barely a star to be seen. The still air was delightfully fresh with falling dew, and a late nightingale, in an indifferent voice, was uttering a routine jug-jug far down in Jack's plantations; closer at hand and more agreeable by far, nightjars churred in the orchard, two of them, or perhaps three, the sound rising and falling, intertwining so that the source could not be made out for sure. There were few birds that he preferred to nightjars, but it was not they that had brought him out of bed: he stood leaning on the balcony rail and presently Jack Aubrey, in a summer-house by the bowling-green, began again, playing very gently in the darkness, improvising wholly for himself, dreaming away on his violin with a mastery that Stephen had never heard equalled, though they had played together for years and years. Like many other sailors Jack Aubrey had long dreamed of lying in his warm bed all night long; yet although he could now do so with a clear conscience he often rose at unChristian hours, particularly if he were moved by strong emotion, and crept from his bedroom in a watch-coat, to walk about the house or into the stables or to pace the bowling-green. Sometimes he took his fiddle with him. He was in fact a better player than Stephen, and now that he was using his precious Guarnieri rather than a robust sea-going fiddle the difference was still more evident: but the Guarnieri did not account for the whole of it, nor anything like. Jack certainly concealed his excellence when they were playing together, keeping to Stephen's mediocre level: this had become perfectly clear when Stephen's hands were at last recovered from the thumb-screws and other implements applied by French counter-intelligence officers in Minorca; but on reflexion Stephen thought it had been the case much earlier, since quite apart from his delicacy at that period, Jack hated showing away. Now, in the warm night, there was no one to be comforted, kept in countenance, no one could scorn him for virtuosity, and he could let himself go entirely; and as the grave and subtle music wound on and on, Stephen once more contemplated on the apparent contradiction between the big, cheerful, florid sea-officer whom most people liked on sight but who would have never been described as subtle or capable of subtlety by any one of them (except perhaps his surviving opponents in battle) and the intricate, reflective music he was now creating. So utterly unlike his limited vocabulary in words, at times verging upon the inarticulate. 'My hands have now regained the moderate ability they possessed before I was captured,' observed Maturin, 'but his have gone on to a point I never thought he could reach: his hands and his mind. I am amazed. 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