第4章

Theyareapples!"Thesmellofroses，ofpeonies，oflilies，hasbeenknowntocausefaintness。Thesightofvariousobjectshashadsingulareffectsonsomepersons。Aboar"sheadwasafavoritedishatthetableofgreatpeopleinMarshald"Albret"stime；yetheusedtofaintatthesightofone。Itisnotuncommontomeetwithpersonswhofaintatthesightofblood。OneofthemostinveteratelypugnaciousofDr。Butts"scollege-matesconfessedthathehadthisinfirmity。Strangerandfarmoreawkwardthanthisisthecasementionedinanancientcollection，wherethesubjectoftheantipathyfaintedatthesightofanyobjectofaredcolor。Therearesounds，also，whichhavestrangeeffectsonsomeindividuals。

Amongtheobnoxiousnoisesarethecrumplingofsilkstuffs，thesoundofsweeping，thecroakingoffrogs。Theeffectsindifferentcaseshavebeenspasms，asenseofstrangling，profusesweating，——allshowingaprofounddisturbanceofthenervoussystem。

Alltheseeffectswereproducedbyimpressionsontheorgansofsense，seeminglybydirectagencyoncertainnervecentres。Butthereisanotherseriesofcasesinwhichtheimaginationplaysalargerpartinthephenomena。Twonotableexamplesareaffordedinthelivesoftwoverydistinguishedpersonages。

PetertheGreatwasfrightened，whenaninfant，byfallingfromabridgeintothewater。Longafterward，whenhehadreachedmanhood，thishardyandresolutemanwassoaffectedbythesoundofwheelsrattlingoverabridgethathehadtodisciplinehimselfbylisteningtothesound，inspiteofhisdreadofit，inordertoovercomehisantipathy。ThestorytoldbyAbbeBoileauofPascalisverysimilartothatrelatedofPeter。AshewasdrivinginhiscoachandfouroverthebridgeatNeuilly，hishorsestookfrightandranaway，andtheleadersbrokefromtheirharnessandsprangintotheriver，leavingthewheel-horsesandthecarriageonthebridge。EverafterthisfrightitissaidthatPascalhadtheterrifyingsensethathewasjustontheedgeofanabyss，readytofallover。

Whatstrangeearlyimpressionwasitwhichledacertainladyalwaystoshriekaloudifsheventuredtoenterachurch，asitisrecorded？

Theoldandsimplewayofaccountingforitwouldbethescripturalone，thatitwasanuncleanspiritwhodweltinher，andwho，whensheenteredtheholyplaceandbroughtherspiritualtenantintothepresenceofthesacredsymbols，"criedwithaloudvoice，andcameoutof"her。Averysingularcase，thedoctorhimselfhadrecorded，andwhichthereadermayacceptasauthentic，isthefollowing:Attheheadofthedoctor"sfrontstairsstood，andstillstands，atallclock，ofearlydateandstatelypresence。Amiddle-agedvisitor，noticingitasheenteredthefrontdoor，remarkedthatheshouldfeelagreatunwillingnesstopassthatclock。Hecouldnotgonearoneofthosetalltimepieceswithoutaprofoundagitation，whichhedreadedtoundergo。Thisverysingularidiosyncrasyheattributedtoafrightwhenhewasaninfantinthearmsofhisnurse。

Shewasstandingnearoneofthosetallclocks，whenthecordwhichsupportedoneofitsheavyleadenweightsbroke，andtheweightcamecrashingdowntothebottomofthecase。Someeffectmusthavebeenproduceduponthepulpynervecentresfromwhichtheyneverrecovered。Whyshouldnotthishappen，whenweknowthatasuddenmentalshockmaybethecauseofinsanity？Thedoctorrememberedtheverseof"TheAncientMariner:"

"Imovedmylips；thepilotshriekedAndfelldowninafit；

TheholyhermitraisedhiseyesAndprayedwherehedidsit。

Itooktheoars；thepilot"sboy，Whonowdothcrazygo，Laughedloudandlong，andallthewhileHiseyeswenttoandfro。”

Thisisonlypoetry，itistrue，butthepoetborrowedthedescriptionfromnature，andtherecordsofourasylumscouldfurnishmanycaseswhereinsanitywascausedbyasuddenfright。

Morethanthis，hardlyayearpassesthatwedonotreadofsomeperson，achildcommonly，killedoutrightbyterror，——scaredtodeath，literally。Sadcasestheyoftenare，inwhich，nothingbutasurprisebeingintended，theshockhasinstantlyarrestedthemovementsonwhichlifedepends。Ifamereinstantaneousimpressioncanproduceeffectslikethese，suchanimpressionmightofcoursebefollowedbyconsequenceslessfatalorformidable，butyetseriousintheirnature。Ifhereandthereapersoniskilled，asifbylightning，byasuddenstartlingsightorsound，theremustbemorenumerouscasesinwhichaterribleshockisproducedbysimilarapparentlyinsignificantcauses，——ashockwhichfallsshortofoverthrowingthereasonanddoesnotdestroylife，yetleavesalastingeffectuponthesubjectofit。

Thispoint，then，wassettledinthemindofDr。Butts，namely，that，asaviolentemotioncausedbyasuddenshockcankillorcrazeahumanbeing，thereisnoperversionofthefaculties，noprejudice，nochangeoftasteortemper，noeccentricity，noantipathy，whichsuchacausemaynotrationallyaccountfor。Hewouldnotbesurprised，hesaidtohimself，tofindthatsomeearlyalarm，likethatwhichwasexperiencedbyPetertheGreatorthatwhichhappenedtoPascal，hadbrokensomespringinthisyoungman"snature，orsochangeditsmodeofactionastoaccountfortheexceptionalremotenessofhiswayoflife。Buthowcouldanyconceivableantipathybesocomprehensiveastokeepayoungmanalooffromalltheworld，andmakeahermitofhim？Hedidnothatethehumanrace；

thatwasclearenough。HetreatedPaolowithgreatkindness，andtheItalianwasevidentlymuchattachedtohim。Hehadtalkednaturallyandpleasantlywiththeyoungmanhehadhelpedoutofhisdangeroussituationwhenhisboatwasupset。Dr。Buttsheardthathehadoncemadeashortvisittothisyoungman，athisroomsintheUniversity。

Itwasnotmisanthropy，therefore，whichkepthimsolitary。Whatcouldbebroadenoughtocoverthefactsofthecase？Nothingthatthedoctorcouldthinkof，unlessitweresomecolor，thesightofwhichactedonhimasitdidontheindividualbeforementioned，whocouldnotlookatanythingredwithoutfainting。Supposethiswereacaseofthesameantipathy。Howverycarefulitwouldmakethesubjectofitastowherehewentandwithwhomheconsorted!Timeandpatiencewouldbeprettysuretobringoutnewdevelopments，andphysicians，ofallmenintheworld，knowhowtowaitaswellashowtolabor。

SuchweresomeofthecrudefactsasDr。Buttsfoundtheminbooksorgatheredthemfromhisownexperience。HesoondiscoveredthatthestoryhadgotaboutthevillagethatMauriceKirkwoodwasthevictimofan"antipathy，"whateverthatwordmightmeaninthevocabularyofthepeopleoftheplace。Ifhesuspectedthechannelthroughwhichithadreachedthelittlecommunity，and，spreadingfromthatcentre，thecountryround，hedidnotseefittomakeoutofhissuspicionsadomesticcasusbelli。Paolomighthavementionedittoothersaswellastohimself。Mauricemighthavetoldsomefriend，whohaddivulgedit。ButtoaccuseMrs。Butts，goodMrs。Butts，ofpetittreasonintellingoneofherhusband"sprofessionalsecretswastooseriousamattertobethoughtof。Hewouldbealittlemorecareful，hepromisedhimself，thenexttime，atanyrate；forhehadtoconcede，inspiteofeverywishtobecharitableinhisjudgment，thatitwasamongthepossibilitiesthattheworthyladyhadforgottentherulethatadoctor"spatientsmustputtheirtonguesout，andadoctor"swifemustkeephertonguein。

VIII

THEPANSOPHIANSOCIETY。

TheSecretaryofthisassociationwasgettingsomewhattiredoftheoffice，andtheofficewasgettingsomewhattiredofhim。ItoccurredtothemembersoftheSocietythatalittlefreshbloodinfusedintoitmightstirupthegeneralvitalityoftheorganization。ThewomansuffragistssawnoreasonwhytheplaceofSecretaryneedasamatterofcoursebefilledbyapersonofthemalesex。Theyagitated，theymadedomiciliaryvisits，theywrotenotestoinfluentialcitizens，andfinallyannouncedastheircandidatetheyoungladywhohadwonandworntheschoolnameof"TheTerror，"whowaselected。Shewasjustthepersonfortheplace:

wideawake，withallherwitsabouther，fullofeverykindofknowledge，and，aboveall，strongonpointsoforderanddetailsofmanagement，sothatshecouldpromptthepresidingofficer，todowhichisoftenthemostessentialdutyofaSecretary。ThePresident，theworthyrector，wasgoodatplainsailinginthetrackofthecommonmoralitiesandproprieties，butwasliabletogetmuddledifanythingcameuprequiringswiftdecisionandoff-handspeech。TheTerrorhadschooledherselfinthedebatingsocietiesoftheInstitute，andwouldsetupthePresident，whenhewasflooredbyanawkwardquestion，aseasilyasifhewereaninepinwhichhadbeenbowledover。

IthasbeenalreadymentionedthatthePansophianSocietyreceivedcommunicationsfromtimetotimefromwritersoutsideofitsownorganization。Oflatethesehadbeenbecomingmorefrequent。Manyofthemweresentinanonymously，andastherewerenumerousvisitorstothevillage，andtwoinstitutionsnotfarremovedfromit，bothfullofambitiousandintelligentyoungpersons，itwasoftenimpossibletotracethepaperstotheirauthors。ThenewSecretarywasalivewithcuriosity，andassagaciousalittlebodyasonemightfindifinwantofadetective。Shecouldmakeaprettyshrewdguesswhetherapaperwaswrittenbyayoungoroldperson，byoneofherownsexortheother，byanexperiencedhandoranovice。

Amongtheanonymouspapersshereceivedwasonewhichexercisedhercuriositytoanextraordinarydegree。Shefeltastrongsuspicionthat"theSachem，"astheboat-crewsusedtocallhim，"theRecluse，"

"theNight-Hawk，""theSphinx，"asothersnamedhim，mustbetheauthorofit。Itappearedtohertheproductionofayoungpersonofareflective，poeticalturnofmind。Itwasnotawoman"swayofwriting；atleast，sothoughttheSecretary。Thewriterhadtravelledmuch；hadresidedinItaly，amongotherplaces。ButsohadmanyofthesummervisitorsandresidentsofArrowheadVillage。Thehandwritingwasnotdecisive；ithadsomepointsofresemblancewiththepencilledordersforbookswhichMauricesenttotheLibrary，buttherewerecertaindifferences，intentionaloraccidental，whichweakenedthisevidence。Therewasanundertoneintheessaywhichwasinkeepingwiththemodeoflifeofthesolitarystranger。Itmightbedisappointment，melancholy，oronlythedreamysadnessofayoungpersonwhoseesthefutureheistoclimb，notasasmoothascent，butasoverhanginghimlikeacliff，readytocrushhim，withallhishopesandprospects。Thisinterpretationmayhavebeentooimaginative，buthereisthepaper，andthereadercanformhisownopinion:

MYTHREECOMPANIONS。

"Ihavebeenfrommyyouthupwardsawanderer。Idonotmeanconstantlyflittingfromoneplacetoanother，formyresidencehasoftenbeenfixedforconsiderableperiods。FromtimetotimeIhaveputdowninanotebooktheimpressionsmadeuponmebythescenesthroughwhichIhavepassed。Ihavelonghesitatedwhethertoletanyofmynotesappearbeforethepublic。Myfearhasbeenthattheyweretoosubjective，tousethemetaphysician"sterm，——thatIhaveseenmyselfreflectedinNature，andnotthetrueaspectsofNatureasshewasmeanttobeunderstood。OnewhoshouldvisittheHarzMountainswouldsee——mightsee，ratherhisowncolossalimageshapeitselfonthemorningmist。Butifineverymistthatrisesfromthemeadows，ineverycloudthathangsuponthemountain，healwaysfindshisownreflection，wecannotaccepthimasaninterpreterofthelandscape。

"TheremustbemanypersonspresentatthemeetingsoftheSocietytowhichthispaperisofferedwhohavehadexperienceslikethatofitsauthor。Theyhavevisitedthesamelocalities，theyhavehadmanyofthesamethoughtsandfeelings。Many，Ihavenodoubt。Notall，——

no，notall。OthershavesoughtthecompanionshipofNature；Ihavebeendriventoit。Muchofmylifehasbeenpassedinthatcommunion。ThesepagesrecordsomeoftheintimaciesIhaveformedwithherundersomeofhervariousmanifestations。

"Ihavelivedontheshoreofthegreatocean，whereitswavesbrokewildestanditsvoiceroseloudest。

"Ihavepassedwholeseasonsonthebanksofmightyandfamousrivers。

"Ihavedweltonthemarginofatranquillake，andfloatedthroughmanyalong，longsummerdayonitsclearwaters。

"Ihavelearnedthe"variouslanguage"ofNature，ofwhichpoetryhasspoken，——atleast，Ihavelearnedsomewordsandphrasesofit。I

willtranslatesomeoftheseasIbestmayintocommonspeech。

"TheOCEANsaystothedwelleronitsshores:——

Youareneitherwelcomenorunwelcome。Idonottroublemyselfwiththelivingtribesthatcomedowntomywaters。Ihavemyownpeople，ofanolderracethanyours，thatgrowtomightierdimensionsthanyourmastodonsandelephants；morenumerousthanalltheswarmsthatfilltheairormoveoverthethincrustoftheearth。Whoareyouthatbuildyourpalacesonmymargin？IseeyourwhitefacesasIsawthedarkfacesofthetribesthatcamebeforeyou，asIshalllookupontheunknownfamilyofmankindthatwillcomeafteryou。

Andwhatisyourwholehumanfamilybutaparenthesisinasinglepageofmyhistory？Theraindropsstereotypedthemselvesonmybeachesbeforealivingcreaturelefthisfootprintsthere。Thishorseshoe-crabIflingatyourfeetisofolderlineagethanyourAdam，——perhaps，indeed，youcountyourAdamasoneofhisdescendants。WhatfeelinghaveIforyou？Notscorn，nothatred，——

notlove，——notloathing。No!——indifference，——blankindifferencetoyouandyouraffairsthatismyfeeling，sayratherabsenceoffeeling，asregardsyou——Ohyes，Iwilllapyourfeet，Iwillcoolyouinthehotsummerdays，Iwillbearyouupinmystrongarms，I

willrockyouonmyrollingundulations，likeababeinhiscradle。

AmInotgentle？AmInotkind？AmInotharmless？Buthark!Thewindisrising，andthewindandIareroughplaymates!Whatdoyousaytomyvoicenow？Doyouseemyfoaminglips？Doyoufeeltherockstrembleasmyhugebillowscrashagainstthem？IsnotmyangerterribleasIdashyourargosy，yourthunder-bearingfrigate，intofragments，asyouwouldcrackaneggshell？——No，notanger；deaf，blind，unheedingindifference，——thatisall。Outofmeallthingsarose；soonerorlater，intomeallthingssubside。Allchangesaroundme；Ichangenot。Ilooknotatyou，vainman，andyourfrailtransitoryconcerns，saveinmomentaryglimpses:Ilookonthewhitefaceofmydeadmistress，whomIfollowasthebridegroomfollowsthebierofherwhohaschangedhernuptialraimentfortheshroud。

"Yewhosethoughtsareofeternity，comedwellatmyside。

Continentsandislandsgrowold，andwasteanddisappear。Thehardestrockcrumbles；vegetableandanimalkingdomscomeintobeing，waxgreat，decline，andperish，togivewaytoothers，evenashumandynastiesandnationsandracescomeandgo。Lookonme!"Timewritesnowrinkle"onmyforehead。Listentome!Alltonguesarespokenonmyshores，butIhaveonlyonelanguage:thewindstaughtmetheirvowelsthecragsandthesandsschooledmeinmyroughorsmoothconsonants。FewwordsareminebutIhavewhisperedthemandsungthemandshoutedthemtomenofalltribesfromthetimewhenthefirstwildwandererstrayedintomyawfulpresence。Haveyouagriefthatgnawsatyourheart-strings？Comewithittomyshore，asofoldthepriestoffar-dartingApollocarriedhisrageandanguishtothemarginoftheloud-roaringsea。There，ifanywhereyouwillforgetyourprivateandshort-livedwoe，formyvoicespeakstotheinfiniteandtheeternalinyourconsciousness。"

"Tohimwholovesthepagesofhumanhistory，wholistenstothevoicesoftheworldabouthim，whofrequentsthemarketandthethoroughfare，wholivesinthestudyoftimeanditsaccidentsratherthaninthedeeperemotions，inabstractspeculationandspiritualcontemplation，theRIVERaddressesitselfashisnaturalcompanion。

"Comelivewithme。Iamactive，cheerful，communicative，anaturaltalkerandstory-teller。Iamnotnoisy，liketheocean，exceptoccasionallywhenIamrudelyinterrupted，orwhenIstumbleandgetafall。WhenIamsilentyoucanstillhavepleasureinwatchingmychangingfeatures。Myidlestbabble，whenIamtoyingwiththetriflesthatfallinmyway，ifnotveryfullofmeaning，isatleastmusical。Iamnotadangerousfriend，liketheocean；nohighwayisabsolutelysafe，butmynatureisharmless，andthestormsthatstrewthebeacheswithwreckscastnoruinsuponmyfloweryborders。Abidewithme，andyoushallnotdieofthirst，liketheforlornwretcheslefttothemerciesofthepitilesssaltwaves。Trustyourselftome，andIwillcarryyoufaronyourjourney，ifwearetravellingtothesamepointofthecompass。IfIsometimesrunriotandoverflowyourmeadows，IleavefertilitybehindmewhenIwithdrawtomynaturalchannel。Walkbymysidetowardtheplaceofmydestination。

Iwillkeeppacewithyou，andyoushallfeelmypresencewithyouasthatofaself-consciousbeinglikeyourself。Youwillfindithardtobemiserableinmycompany；Idrainyouofill-conditionedthoughtsasIcarryawaytherefuseofyourdwellinganditsgrounds:

Buttohimwhomtheoceanchillsandcrusheswithitssullenindifference，andtheriverdisturbswithitsnever-pausingandnever-endingstory，thesilentLAKEshallbearefugeandaplaceofrestforhissoul。

""Vexnotyourselfwiththoughtstoovastforyourlimitedfaculties，"itsays；"yieldnotyourselftothebabbleoftherunningstream。Leavetheocean，whichcaresnothingforyouoranylivingthingthatwalksthesolidearth；leavetheriver，toobusywithitsownerrand，tootalkativeaboutitsownaffairs，andfindpeacewithme，whosesmilewillcheeryou，whosewhisperwillsootheyou。Cometomewhenthemorningsunblazesacrossmybosomlikeagoldenbaldric；cometomeinthestillmidnight，whenIholdtheinvertedfirmamentlikeacupbrimmingwithjewels，norspillonestarofalltheconstellationsthatfloatinmyebongoblet。Doyouknowthecharmofmelancholy？Wherewillyoufindasympathylikemineinyourhoursofsadness？Doestheoceanshareyourgrief？Doestheriverlistentoyoursighs？Thesaltwave，thatcalledtoyoufromunderlastmonth"sfullmoon，to-dayisdashingontherocksofLabrador；thestream，thatranbyyoupureandsparkling，hasswallowedthepoisonousrefuseofagreatcity，andiscreepingtoitsgraveinthewidecemeterythatburiesallthingsinitstombofliquidcrystal。Itistruethatmywatersexhaleandarerenewedfromoneseasontoanother；butareyourfeaturesthesame，absolutelythesame，fromyeartoyear？Webothchange，butweknoweachotherthroughallchanges。AmInotmirroredinthoseeyesofyours？AnddoesnotNatureplantmeasaneyetobeholdherbeautieswhilesheisdressedinthegloriesofleafandflower，anddrawtheicylidovermyshiningsurfacewhenshestandsnakedandashamedinthepovertyofwinter？"

"Ihavehadstrangeexperiencesandsadthoughtsinthecourseofalifenotverylong，butwitharecordwhichmuchlongerlivescouldnotmatchinincident。Oftentimesthetemptationhascomeovermewithdangerousurgencytotryachangeofexistence，ifsuchchangeisapartofhumandestiny，——toseekrest，ifthatiswhatwegainbylayingdowntheburdenoflife。IhaveaskedwhowouldbethefriendtowhomIshouldappealforthelastserviceIshouldhaveneedof。

Oceanwasthere，allready，askingnoquestions，answeringnone。

Whatstrangevoyages，downwardthroughitsglaucousdepths，upwardstoitsboilingandfrothingsurface，waftedbytides，drivenbytempests，dispartedbyrudeagencies；oneremnantwhiteningonthesandsofanorthernbeach，oneperhapsbuiltintothecircleofacoralreefinthePacific，onesettlingtothefloorofthevastlaboratorywherecontinentsarebuilt，toemergeinfar-offages!

Whatstrangecompanionsformypall-bearers!Unwieldysea-monsters，thestoriesofwhicharecountedfablesbythespectacledcollectorswhothinktheircatalogueshaveexhaustednature；naked-eyedcreatures，staring，glaring，nightmare-likespectresoftheghastly-

greenabysses；pulpyislands，withlifeingelatinousimmensity，——

whatacompanyofhungryheirsateveryoceanfuneral!No!No!

Oceanclaimsgreatmultitudes，butdoesnotinvitethesolitarywhowouldfainberidofhimself。

"ShallIseekadeeperslumberatthebottomofthelakeIlovethanIhaveeverfoundwhendriftingidlyoveritssurface？No，again。I

donotwantthesweet，clearwaterstoknowmeinthedisgraceofnature，whenlife，thefaithfulbody-servant，hasceasedcaringforme。Thatmustnotbe。Themirrorwhichhaspicturedmesooftenshallneverknowmeasanunwelcomeobject。

"IfImustasktheall-subduingelementtobemylastfriend，andleadmeoutofmyprison，itshallbethebusy，whispering，notunfriendly，pleasantlycompanionableriver。

"ButOceanandRiverandLakehavecertainrelationstotheperiodsofhumanlifewhichtheywhoarechoosingtheirplacesofabodeshouldconsider。Letthechildplayupontheseashore。Thewidehorizongiveshisimaginationroomtogrowin，untrammelled。Thatbackgroundofmystery，withoutwhichlifeisapoormechanicalarrangement，isshapedandcolored，sofarasitcanhaveoutline，oranyhuebutshadow，onavastcanvas，thecontemplationofwhichenlargesandenrichesthesphereofconsciousness。Themightyoceanisnottoohugetosymbolizetheaspirationsandambitionsoftheyetuntriedsouloftheadolescent。

"Thetimewillcomewhenhisindefinitementalhorizonhasfoundasolidlimit，whichshutshisprospectinnarrowerboundsthanhewouldhavethoughtcouldcontenthimintheyearsofundefinedpossibilities。Thenhewillfindtheriveramorenaturalintimatethantheocean。Itisindividual，whichtheocean，withallitsgulfsandinletsandmultitudinousshores，hardlyseemstobe。Itdoesnotloveyouverydearly，andwillnotmissyoumuchwhenyoudisappearfromitsmargin；butitmeanswelltoyou，bidsyougood-

morningwithitscomingwaves，andgood-eveningwiththosewhichareleaving。Itwillleadyourthoughtspleasantlyaway，upwardstoitssource，downwardstothestreamtowhichitistributary，orthewidewatersinwhichitistoloseitself。Ariver，bychoice，tolivebyinmiddleage。

"Inhoursofmelancholyreflection，inthoselastyearsoflifewhichhavelittleleftbuttendermemories，thestillcompanionshipofthelake，embosomedinwoods，sheltered，fedbysweetmountainbrooksandhiddensprings，commendsitselftotheweariedandsaddenedspirit。

Iamnotthinkingofthosegreatinlandseas，whichhavemanyofthefeaturesandmuchofthedangerthatbelongtotheocean，butofthose"ponds，"asourcountrymenusedtocallthemuntiltheywererechristenedbysummervisitors；beautifulsheetsofwaterfromahundredtoafewthousandacresinextent，scatteredlikeraindropsoverthemapofourNorthernsovereignties。Thelonelinessofcontemplativeoldagefindsitsnaturalhomeinthenearneighborhoodofoneofthesetranquilbasins。

Naturedoesnotalwaysplantherpoetswheretheybelong，butifwelookcarefullytheiraffinitiesbetraythemselves。TheyouthwillcarryhisByrontotherockwhichoverlookstheoceanthepoetlovedsowell。ThemanofmatureryearswillrememberthatthesonorouscoupletsofPopewhichringinhisearswerewrittenonthebanksoftheThames。Theoldman，ashenodsoverthesolemnverseofWordsworth，willrecognizetheaffinitybetweenthesingerandthecalmsheetthatlaybeforehimashewrote，——thestainlessandsleepyWindermere。

"ThedwellersbyCedarLakemayfinditanamusementtocomparetheirownfeelingswiththoseofonewhohaslivedbytheAtlanticandtheMediterranean，bytheNileandtheTiber，byLakeLemanandbyoneofthefairestsheetsofwaterthatourownNorthAmericaembosomsinitsforests。”

MissLuridaVincent，SecretaryofthePansophianSociety，readthispaper，andponderedlonguponit。Shewasthinkingveryseriouslyofstudyingmedicine，andhadbeenforsometimeinfrequentcommunicationwithDr。Butts，underwhosedirectionshehadbegunreadingcertaintreatises，whichaddedtosuchknowledgeofthelawsoflifeinhealthandindiseaseasshehadbroughtwithherfromtheCorinnaInstitute。Naturallyenough，shecarriedtheanonymouspapertothedoctor，togethisopinionaboutit，andcompareitwithherown。Theybothagreedthatitwasprobably，theywouldnotsaycertainly，theworkofthesolitaryvisitor。Therewasroomfordoubt，fortherewerevisitorswhomightwellhavetravelledtoalltheplacesmentioned，andresidedlongenoughontheshoresofthewatersthewriterspokeoftohavehadalltheexperiencesmentionedinthepaper。TheTerrorrememberedayounglady，aformerschoolmate，whobelongedtooneofthosenomadicfamiliescommoninthisgeneration，theheadsofwhich，especiallythefemaleheads，canneverbeeasywheretheyare，butkeepgoingbetweenAmericaandEurope，likesomanypith-ballsintheelectricalexperiment，alternatelyattractedandrepelled，neverincontentedequilibrium。

Everyfewyearstheypulltheirfamiliesupbytheroots，andbythetimetheyhavebeguntotakeholdalittlewiththeirradiclesinthespotstowhichtheyhavebeensuccessivelytransplanteduptheycomeagain，sothattheynevergetatap-rootanywhere。TheTerrorsuspectedthedaughterofoneofthesefamiliesofsendingcertainanonymousarticlesofnotdissimilarcharactertotheoneshehadjustreceived。Butsheknewthestyleofcompositioncommonamongtheyounggirls，andshecouldhardlybelievethatitwasoneofthemwhohadsentthispaper。Couldabrotherofthisyoungladyhavewrittenit？Possibly；sheknewnothingmorethanthattheyoungladyhadabrother，thenastudentattheUniversity。AllthechanceswerethatMr。MauriceKirkwoodwastheauthor。SothoughtLurida，andsothoughtDr。Butts。

Whateverfaultstherewereinthisessay，itinterestedthemboth。

Therewasnothingwhichgavetheleastreasontosuspectinsanityonthepartofthewriter，whoeverheorshemightbe。Therewerereferencestosuicide，itistrue，buttheywereofapurelyspeculativenature，anddidnotlooktoanypracticalpurposeinthatdirection。Besides，ifthestrangerweretheauthorofthepaper，hecertainlywouldnotchooseasheetofwaterlikeCedarLaketoperformthelastofficesforhim，incaseheseriouslymeditatedtakingunceremoniousleaveoflifeanditsaccidents。Hecouldfindarivereasilyenough，tosaynothingofothermethodsofeffectinghispurpose；buthehadcommittedhimselfastotheimproprietyofselectingalake，sotheyneednotbeanxiousaboutthewhitecanoeanditsoccupant，astheywatcheditskimmingthesurfaceofthedeepwaters。

TheholderofthePortfoliowouldneverhaveventuredtocomebeforethepublicifhehadnotcountedamonghisresourcescertainpapersbelongingtotherecordsofthePansophianSociety，whichhecanmakefreeuseof，eitherfortheillustrationofthenarrative，orforadiversionduringthoseintervalsinwhichtheflowofeventsislanguid，orevenceasesforthetimetomanifestanyprogress。ThereadercanhardlyhavefailedtonoticethattheoldAnchorTavernhadbecomethefocalpointwhereagooddealofmentalactivityconverged。Therewerethevillagepeople，includinganumberofcultivatedfamilies；therewerethevisitors，amongthemmanyaccomplishedandwidelytravelledpersons；therewastheUniversity，withitslearnedteachersandaspiringyoungmen；therewastheCorinnaInstitute，withitseager，ambitious，hungry-souledyoungwomen，crowdingon，classafterclasscomingforwardonthebroadstreamofliberalculture，androundingthepointwhich，oncepassed，theboundlesspossibilitiesofwomanhoodopenedbeforethem。Allthisfurnishedmaterialenoughandtosparefortherecordsandthearchivesofthesociety。

ThenewSecretaryinfusedfreshlifeintothemeetings。Itmayberememberedthatthegirlshadsaidofher，whenshewasTheTerror，that"shekneweverythinganddidn"tbelieveanything。”Thatwasjustthekindofpersonforasecretaryofsuchanassociation。

Properlyinterpreted，thesayingmeantthatsheknewagreatdeal，andwantedtoknowagreatdealmore，andwasconsequentlyalwaysonthelookoutforinformation；thatshebelievednothingwithoutsufficientproofthatitwastrue，andthereforewasperpetuallyaskingforevidencewhere，otherstookassertionsontrust。

ItwasastonishingtoseewhatonelittlecreaturelikeTheTerrorcouldaccomplishinthecourseofasingleseason。Shefoundoutwhateachmembercoulddoandwantedtodo。Shewrotetotheoutsidevisitorswhomshesuspectedofcapacity，andurgedthemtospeakatthemeetings，orsendwrittenpaperstoberead。Asanofficial，withtheprintedtitleattheheadofhernotes，PANSOPHIANSOCIETY，shewasaprivilegedpersonage。Shebeggedtheyoungpersonswhohadtravelledtotellsomethingoftheirexperiences。Shehadcontemplatedgettingupadiscussiononthewoman"srightsquestion，butbeingawarylittlebody，andknowingthatthedebatewouldbecomeadisputeanddividethemembersintotwohostilecamps，shedeferredthisprojectindefinitely。Itwouldbetimeenoughaftershehadherteamwellinhand，shesaidtoherself，——hadfelttheirmouthsandtriedtheirpaces。Thisexpression，assheuseditinherthoughts，seemsratherforeigntoherhabits，buttherewasroominherlargebrainforawiderangeofillustrationsandanamplevocabulary。Shecouldnotdomuchwithherownmuscles，butshehadknownthepassionatedelightofbeingwhirledfuriouslyovertheroadbehindfourscamperinghorses，inarockingstage-coach，andthoughtofherselfintheSecretary"schairasnotunlikethedriveronhisbox。Afewweeksofresthadallowedhernervousenergytostoreitselfup，andthesamepowerswhichhaddistancedcompetitionintheclassesofherschoolhadofnecessitytoexpendthemselvesinvigorousactioninhernewoffice。

Herappealshadtheireffect。Anumberofpaperswereverysoonsentin；somewithnames，someanonymously。Shelookedthesepapersover，andmarkedthosewhichshethoughtwouldbeworthreadingandlisteningtoatthemeetings。Oneofthemhasjustbeenpresentedtothereader。Astotheauthorshipofthefollowingonethereweremanyconjectures。Awell-knownwriter，whohadspentsomeweeksatArrowheadVillage，wasgenerallysuspectedofbeingitsauthor。

Some，however，questionedwhetheritwasnottheworkofanewhand，whowrote，notfromexperience，butfromhisorherideasoftheconditiontowhichastory-teller，anovelist，mustinallprobabilitybesoonerorlaterreduced。Thereadermustjudgeforhimselfwhetherthisfirstpaperistheworkofanoldhandoranovice。

SOMEEXPERIENCESOFANOVELIST。

"Ihavewrittenafrightfulnumberofstories，fortyormore，I

think。Letmesee。Fortwelveyearstwonovelsayearregularly:

thatmakestwenty-four。InthreedifferentyearsIhavewrittenthreestoriesannually:thatmakesthirty-three。Infiveyearsoneayear，——thirty-eight。Thatisall，isn"tit？Yes。Thirty-eight，notforty。IwishIcouldmakethemallintoonecompositestory，asMr。Galtondoeshisfaces。

"Hero——heroine——mamma——papa——uncle——sister，andsoon。Love——

obstacles——misery——tears——despair——glimmerofhope——unexpectedsolutionofdifficulties——happyfinale。

"Landscapeforbackgroundaccordingtoseason。Plantsofeachmonthgotupfrombotanicalcalendars。

"Ishouldlikemuchtoseethecompositenovel。WhynotapplyMr。

Galton"sprocess，andgetthirty-eightstoriesallinone？AlltheYankeeswouldresolveintooneYankee，alltheP——WestBritonsintoonePatrick，etc。，whatasavingoftimeitwouldbe!

"Igotalongprettywellwithmyfirstfewstories。Ihadsomecharactersaroundmewhich，alittledisguised，answeredwellenough。

Therewastheministeroftheparish，andtherewasanoldschoolmastereitherofthemservedverysatisfactorilyforgrandfathersandolduncles。AllIhadtodowastoshiftsomeoftheirleadingpeculiarities，keepingtherest。Theoldministerworeknee-breeches。Iclappedthemontotheschoolmaster。Theschoolmastercarriedatallgold-headedcane。Iputthisintheminister"shands。Sowithotherthings，——Ishiftedthemround，andgotasetofcharacterswho，takentogether，reproducedthechiefpersonsofthevillagewhereIlived，butdidnotcopyanyindividualexactly。Thusitwentonforawhile；butbyandbymystockcompanybegantoberathertoofamiliarlyknown，inspiteoftheirchangeofcostume，andatlastsomealtogethertoosagaciouspersonpublishedwhathecalleda"key"toseveralofmyearlierstories，inwhichI

foundthenamesofanumberofneighborsattachedtoaliasesofmyowninvention。Allthe"types，"ashecalledthem，representedbythesepersonagesofmystoryhadcometoberecognized，eachasstandingforoneandthesameindividualofmyacquaintance。Ithadbeenofnousetochangethecostume。Evenchangingthesexdidnogood。Ihadafamousoldgossipinoneofmytales，——amuch-babblingWidowSertingly。"Sho!"theyallsaid，that"soldDeaconSpinner，thesamehetoldaboutinthatotherstoryofhis，——onlythedeacon"sgotonapetticoatandamob-cap，——butit"sthesameoldsixpence。"

SoIsaidtomyself，Imusthavesomenewcharacters。Ihadnotroublewithyoungcharacters；theyareallprettymuchalike，——dark-

hairedorlight-haired，withtheoutfitsbelongingtotheircomplexion，respectively。Ihadanoldgreat-aunt，whowasatip-topeccentric。Ihadneverseenanythingjustlikeherinbooks。SoI

said，Iwillhaveyou，oldlady，inoneofmystories；and，sureenough，Ifittedheroutwithafirst-rateodd-soundingname，whichI

gotfromthedirectory，andsentherforthtotheworld，disguised，asIsupposed，beyondthepossibilityofrecognition。Thebooksoldwell，andtheeccentricpersonagewasvotedanovelty。Afewweeksafteritwaspublishedalawyercalleduponme，astheagentofthepersoninthedirectory，whosefamilynameIhadused，ashemaintained，tohisandallhisrelatives"greatdamage，wrong，loss，grief，shame，andirreparableinjury，forwhichthesumofblankthousanddollarswouldbeamodestcompensation。Thestorymadethebooksell，butnotenoughtopayblankthousanddollars。Inthemeantimeacousinofminehadsniffedouttheresemblancebetweenthecharacterinmybookandourgreat-aunt。Wewererivalsinhergoodgraces。"CousinPansie"spoketoherofmybookandthetroubleitwasbringingonme，——shewassosorryaboutit!Shelikedmystory，——onlythosepersonalities，youknow。"Whatpersonalities？"saysoldgranny-aunt。"Why，auntie，dear，theydosaythathehasbroughtineverybodyweknow，——didn"tanybodytellyouabout——well，——Isupposeyououghttoknowit，——didn"tanybodytellyouyouweremadefunofinthatnovel？"Somebody——nomatterwho——happenedtohearallthis，andtoldme。Shesaidgranny-aunt"switheredoldfacehadtworedspotscometoit，asifshehadbeenpaintinghercheeksfromapinksaucer。No，shesaid，notapinksaucer，butasiftheyweretwocoalsoffire。Shesentoutandgotthebook，andmadeher(thesomebodythatIwasspeakingof)readittoher。Whenshehadheardasmuchasshecouldstand，——for"CousinPansie"explainedpassagestoher，——explained，youknow，——shesentforherlawyer，andthatsamesomebodyhadtobeawitnesstoanewwillshehaddrawnup。Itwasnottomyadvantage。"CousinPansie"gotthecornerlotwherethegroceryis，andprettymucheverythingelse。Theoldwomanleftmealegacy。Whatdoyouthinkitwas？Anoldsetofmyownbooks，thatlookedasifithadbeenboughtoutofabankruptcirculatinglibrary。

"AfterthatIgrewmorecareful。Istudiedmydisguisesmuchmorediligently。Butafterall，whatcouldIdo？HereIwas，writingstoriesformylivingandmyreputation。Imadeaprettysumenough，andworkedhardenoughtoearnit。Notale，nomoney。Theneverystorythatwentfrommyworkshophadtocomeuptothestandardofmyreputation，andtherewasasetofcritics，——thereisasetofcriticsnowandeverywhere，——thatwatchasnarrowlyforthedeclineofaman"sreputationaseveravillagehalfdrownedoutbyaninundationwatchedforthefallingofthewaters。ThefameIhadwon，suchasitwas，seemedtoattendme，——notgoingbeforemeintheshapeofawomanwithatrumpet，butratherfollowingmelikeoneofActaeon"shounds，histhroatopen，readytopullmedownandtearme。

Whatafierceenemyisthatwhichbaysbehindusinthevoiceofourproudestbygoneachievement!

"But，asIsaidabove，whatcouldIdo？Imustwritenovels，andI

musthavecharacters。"Thenwhynotinventthem？"askssomenovice。

Oh，yes!Inventthem!Youcaninventahumanbeingthatincertainaspectsofhumanitywillanswereverypurposeforwhichyourinventionwasintended。Abasketofstraw，anoldcoatandpairofbreeches，ahatwhichhasbeensoaked，satupon，stuffedabrokenwindow，andhadabroodofchickensraisedinit，——theseelements，dulyadjustedtoeachother，willrepresenthumanitysotruthfullythatthecrowswillavoidthecornfieldwhenyourscarecrowdisplayshispersonality。Doyouthinkyoucanmakeyourheroesandheroines，——nay，evenyourscrappysupernumeraries，——outofrefusematerial，asyoumadeyourscarecrow？Youcan"tdoit。Youmuststudylivingpeopleandreproducethem。Andwhomdoyouknowsowellasyourfriends？Youwillshowupyourfriends，then，oneafteranother。Whenyourfriendsgiveout，whoisleftforyou？Why，nobodybutyourownfamily，ofcourse。Whenyouhaveusedupyourfamily，thereisnothingleftforyoubuttowriteyourautobiography。

"Aftermyexperiencewithmygrand-aunt，Ibecamemorecautious，verynaturally。Ikepttraitsofcharacter，butImixedagesaswellassexes。InthiswayIcontinuedtouseupalargeamountofmaterial，whichlookedasifitwereasdangerousasdynamitetomeddlewith。Whowouldhaveexpectedtomeetmymaternaluncleintheguiseofaschoolboy？YetImanagedtodecanthischaracteristicsasnicelyastheoldgentlemanwouldhavedecantedabottleofJunoMadeirathroughthatlongsiphonwhichhealwaysusedwhenthemostsacredvintagesweresummonedfromtheircryptstorenderanaccountofthemselvesonhishospitableboard。Itwasanicebusiness，Iconfess，butIdidit，andIdrinkcheerfullytothatgooduncle"smemoryinaglassofwinefromhisowncellar，which，withmanyothermoreimportanttokensofhisgoodwill，Icallmyownsincehislamenteddemise。

"IsucceededsowellwithmyunclethatIthoughtIwouldtryacourseofcousins。Ihadenoughofthemtofurnishoutawholegalleryofportraits。Therewascousin"Creeshy，"aswecalledher；

Lucretia，morecorrectly。Shewasacripple。Herleftlowerlimbhadhadsomethinghappentoit，andshewalkedwithacrutch。Herpatienceunderhertrialwasverypatheticandpicturesque，sotospeak，——Imeanadaptedtothetenderpartsofastory；nothingcouldworkupbetterinameltingparagraph。ButIcouldnot，ofcourse，describeherparticularinfirmity；thatwouldpointheroutatonce。

Ithoughtofshiftingthelamenesstotherightlowerlimb，buteventhatwouldbeseenthrough。SoIgavetheyoungwomanthatstoodforherinmystoryalameelbow，andputherarminasling，andmadehersuchamodelofuncomplainingendurancethatmygrandmothercriedoverherasifherpooroldheartwouldbreak。Shecriedveryeasily，mygrandmother；infact，shehadsuchagiftfortearsthatI

availedmyselfofit，andifyourememberoldJudy，inmynovel"HoniSoit"(HoneySweet，thebooksellerscalledit)，——oldJudy，theblack-nurse，——thatwasmygrandmother。Shehadvariousotherpeculiarities，whichIbroughtoutonebyone，andsaddledontodifferentcharacters。Youseeshewasaperfectmineofsingularitiesandidiosyncrasies。AfterIhadusedherupprettywell，Icamedawnuponmypoorrelations。Theywereperfectlyfairgame；whatbetterusecouldIputthemto？Istudiedthemupverycarefully，andastherewereagoodmanyofthemIhelpedmyselffreely。Theylastedme，withoccasionalintermissions，Ishouldsay，threeorfouryears。Ihadtobeverycarefulwithmypoorrelations，——theywereastouchyastheycouldbe；andasIfeltboundtosendacopyofmynovel，whateveritmightbe，toeachoneofthem，——therewereasmanyasadozen，——Itookcaretomixtheircharacteristicfeatures，sothat，thougheachmightsuspectImeanttheother，nooneshouldthinkImeanthimorher。Igotthroughallmyrelationsatlastexceptmyfatherandmother。Ihadtreatedmybrothersandsistersprettyfairly，allexceptElishaandJoanna。

Thetruthistheybothhadlotsofoddways，——familytraits，I

suppose，butwerejustdifferentenoughfromeachothertofigureseparatelyintwodifferentstories。Thesetwonovelsmademesomelittletrouble；forElishasaidhefeltsurethatImeantJoannainoneofthem，andquarrelledwithmeaboutit；andJoannavowedanddeclaredthatElnathan，intheother，stoodforbrother"Lisha，andthatitwasarealmeanthingtomakefunoffolks"ownfleshandblood，andtreatedmetooneofhercries。Shewasn"thandsomewhenshecried，poor，dearJoanna；infact，thatwasoneofthepersonaltraitsIhadmadeuseofinthestorythatElishafoundfaultwith。

"Soastherewasnobodyleftbutmyfatherandmother，youseeforyourselfIhadnochoice。Therewasonegreatadvantageindealingwiththem，——Iknewthemsothoroughly。Onenaturallyfeelsacertaindelicacyithandlingfromapurelyartisticpointofviewpersonswhohavebeensoneartohim。One"smother，forinstance:supposesomeofherlittlewaysweresopeculiarthattheaccuratedelineationofthemwouldfurnishamusementtogreatnumbersofreaders；itwouldnotbewithouthesitationthatawriterofdelicatesensibilitywoulddrawherportrait，withallitswhimsicalities，soplainlythatitshouldbegenerallyrecognized。One"sfatheriscommonlyoftougherfibrethanone"smother，andonewouldnotfeelthesamescruples，perhaps，inusinghimprofessionallyasmaterialinanovel；still，whileyouareemployinghimasbait，——youseeIamhonestandplain-

spoken，foryourcharactersarebaitstocatchreaderswith，——IwouldfollowkindIzaakWalton"shumanecounselaboutthefrogyouarefasteningtoyourfish-hook:fixhimartistically，ashedirects，butinsodoingIusehimasthoughyoulovedhim。"

"Ihaveatlengthshownup，inoneformandanother，allmytownsmenwhohaveanythingeffectiveintheirbodilyormentalmake-up，allmyfriends，allmyrelatives；thatis，allmybloodrelatives。IthasoccurredtomethatImightopenanewfieldinthefamilyconnectionofmyfather-in-lawandmother-in-law。Wehavebeenthinkingofpayingthemavisit，andIshallhaveanadmirableopportunityofstudyingthemandtheirrelativesandvisitors。IhavelongwantedagoodchanceforgettingacquaintedwiththesocialsphereseveralgradesbelowthattowhichIamaccustomed，andIhavenodoubtthatIshallfindmatterforhalfadozennewstoriesamongthoseconnectionsofmine。Besides，theyliveinaWesterncity，andonedoesn"tmindmuchhowhecutsupthepeopleofplaceshedoesn"thimselflivein。Isupposethereisnotreallysomuchdifferenceinpeople"sfeelings，whethertheyliveinBangororOmaha，butone"snervescan"tbeexpectedtostretchacrossthecontinent。Itisallamatterofgreaterorlessdistance。IreadthismorningthataChinesefleetwassunk，butIdidn"tthinkhalfsomuchaboutitasIdidaboutlosingmysleevebutton，confoundit!Peoplehaveaccusedmeofwantoffeeling；theymisunderstandtheartist-nature，——thatisall。Iobeythatimplicitly；Iamsorryifpeopledon"tlikemydescriptions，butIhavedonemybest。IhavepulledtopiecesallthepersonsIamacquaintedwith，andputthemtogetheragaininmycharacters。ThequillsIwritewithcomefromlivegeese，Iwouldhaveyouknow。Iexpecttogetsomefirst-ratepluckingsfromthosepeopleIwasspeakingof，andImeantobeginmythirty-ninthnovelassoonasIhavegotthroughmyvisit。”

IX

THESOCIETYANDITSNEWSECRETARY。

Thereisnouseintryingtohurrythenaturalcourseofevents，inanarrativelikethis。Junepassedaway，andJuly，andAugusthadcome，andasyettheenigmawhichhadcompletelypuzzledArrowheadVillageanditsvisitorsremainedunsolved。Thewhitecanoestillwanderedoverthelake，alone，ghostly，alwaysavoidingthenearapproachoftheboatswhichseemedtobecominginitsdirection。

Nowandthenacircumstancewouldhappenwhichhelpedtokeepinquiryalive。GoodhorsemanshipwasnotsocommonamongtheyoungmenoftheplaceanditsneighborhoodthatMaurice"saccomplishmentinthatwaycouldbeoverlooked。Iftherewasawickedhorseorawildcoltwhoseownerwasafraidofhim，hewouldbecommendedtoMaurice"sattention。Paolowouldleadhimtohismasterwithalldueprecaution，——forhehadnoideaofriskinghisneckonthebackofanyill-conditionedbeast，——andMauricewouldfastenonhislongspurs，springintothesaddle，andveryspeedilyteachthecreaturegoodbehavior。Theresoongotaboutastorythathewaswhatthefresh-waterfishermancalled"oneo"themwhisperers。”Itisacommonlegendenough，comingfromtheOldWorld，butknowninAmericanhorse-talkingcircles，thatsomepersonswillwhispercertainwordsinahorse"searwhichwilltamehimifheisaswildandfuriousaseverCruiserwas。Allthisaddedtothemysterywhichsurroundedtheyoungman。Asingleimprobableorabsurdstoryamountstoverylittle，butwhenhalfadozensuchstoriesaretoldaboutthesameindividualorthesameevent，theybegintoproducetheeffectofcredibleevidence。Iftheyearhadbeen1692andtheplacehadbeenSalemVillage，MauriceKirkwoodwouldhaveruntheriskofbeingtreatedliketheReverendGeorgeBurroughs。

MissLuridaVincent"scuriosityhadbeenintenselyexcitedwithreferencetotheyoungmanofwhomsomanystoriesweretold。ShehadprettynearlyconvincedherselfthathewastheauthorofthepaperonOcean，Lake，andRiver，whichhadbeenreadatoneofthemeetingsofthePansophianSociety。Shewasverydesirousofmeetinghim，ifitwerepossible。Itseemedasifshemight，asSecretaryoftheSociety，requestthecooperationofanyofthevisitors，withoutimpropriety。So，aftermuchdeliberation，shewroteacarefulnote，ofwhichthefollowingisanexactcopy。Herhandwasbold，almostmasculine，acuriouscontrasttothatofEuthymia，whichwasdelicatelyfeminine。

PANSOPHIANSOCIETY。

ARROWHEADVILLAGE，August3，18。

MAURICEKIRKWOOD，ESQ。

DEARSIR，——Youhavereceived，Itrust，acardofinvitationtothemeetingsofourSociety，butIthinkwehavenotyethadthepleasureofseeingyouatanyofthem。Wehavesupposedthatwemightbeindebtedtoyouforapaperreadatthelastmeeting，andlistenedtowithmuchinterest。Asitwasanonymous，wedonotwishtobeinquisitiverespectingitsauthorship；butwedesiretosaythatanypaperskindlysentusbythetemporaryresidentsofourvillagewillbewelcome，andifadaptedtothewantsofourAssociationwillbereadatoneofitsmeetingsorprintedinitsrecords，orperhapsbothreadandprinted。Maywenothopeforyourpresenceatthemeeting，whichistotakeplacenextWednesdayevening？

Respectfullyyours，LURIDAVINCENT，SecretaryofthePansophianSociety。

TothisnotetheSecretaryreceivedthefollowingreply:

MISSLURIDAVINCENT，ARROWHEADVILLAGE，August4，18。

SecretaryofthePansophianSociety:

DEARMISSVINCENT，——Ihavereceivedtheticketyoureferto，anddesiretoexpressmyacknowledgmentsforthepoliteattention。I

regretthatIhavenotbeenandIfearshallnotbeabletoattendthemeetingsoftheSociety；butifanysubjectoccurstomeonwhichIfeelaninclinationtowrite，itwillgivemepleasuretosendapaper，tobedisposedofastheSocietymayseefit。

Veryrespectfullyyours，MAURICEKIRKWOOD。

"Hesaysnothingabouttheauthorshipofthepaperthatwasreadtheotherevening，"theSecretarysaidtoherself。"Nomatter，——hewroteit，——thereisnomistakinghishandwriting。Weknowsomethingabouthim，now，atanyrate。Butwhydoesn"thecometoourmeetings？Whathashisantipathytodowithhisstayingaway？I

mustfindoutwhathissecretis，andIwill。Idon"tbelieveit"sharderthanitwastosolvethatprizeproblemwhichpuzzledsomanyteachers，orthanbeatingCrakowitz，thegreatchess-player。”

Tothisenigma，then，TheTerrordeterminedtobendallthefacultieswhichhadexcitedtheadmirationandsometimestheamazementofthosewhoknewherinherschool-days。Itwasaverydelicatepieceofbusiness；forthoughLuridawasanintrepidwoman"srightsadvocate，andbelievedshewasentitledtodoalmosteverythingthatmendaredto，sheknewverywelltherewerecertainlimitswhichayoungwomanlikeherselfmustnotpass。

InthemeantimeMauricehadreceivedavisitfromtheyoungstudentattheUniversity，——thesamewhomhehadrescuedfromhisdangerouspredicamentinthelake。Withhimhadcalledoneoftheteachers，——

aninstructorinmodernlanguages，anativeofItaly。MauriceandtheinstructorexchangedafewwordsinItalian。Theyoungmanspokeitwiththeeasewhichimpliedlongfamiliaritywithitsuse。

Aftertheyleft，theinstructoraskedmanycuriousquestionsabouthim，——whohewas，howlonghehadbeeninthevillage，whetheranythingwasknownofhishistory，——alltheseinquirieswithaneagernesswhichimpliedsomespecialandpeculiarreasonfortheinteresttheyevinced。

"Ifeelsatisfied，"theinstructorsaid，"thatIhavemetthatyoungmaninmyowncountry。Itwasanumberofyearsago，andofcoursehehasalteredinappearanceagooddeal；butthereisalookabouthimof——whatshallIcallit？——apprehension，——asifhewerefearingtheapproachofsomethingorsomebody。Ithinkitisthewayamanwouldlookthatwashaunted；youknowwhatImean，——followedbyaspiritorghost。Hedoesnotsuggesttheideaofamurderer，——veryfarfromit；butifhedid，Ishouldthinkhewaseveryminuteinfearofseeingthemurderedman"sspirit。”

Thestudentwascurious，inhisturn，toknowalltheinstructorcouldrecall。HehadseenhiminRome，hethought，attheFountainofTrevi，wheresomanystrangersgobeforeleavingthecity。Theyouthwasinthecompanyofamanwholookedlikeapriest。Hecouldnotmistakethepeculiarexpressionofhiscountenance，butthatwasallhenowrememberedabouthisappearance。Hisattentionhadbeencalledtothisyoungmanbyseeingthatsomeofthebystanderswerepointingathim，andnoticingthattheywerewhisperingwitheachotherasifwithreferencetohim。Heshouldsaythattheyouthwasatthattimefifteenorsixteenyearsold，andthetimewasabouttenyearsago。

Afterall，thisevidencewasoflittleornovalue。SupposetheyouthwereMaurice；whatthen？WeknowthathehadbeeninItaly，andhadbeenthereagoodwhile，——oratleastweinfersomuchfromhisfamiliaritywiththelanguage，andareconfirmedinthebeliefbyhishavinganItalianservant，whomheprobablybroughtfromItalywhenhereturned。Ifhewrotethepaperwhichwasreadtheotherevening，thatsettlesit，forthewritersayshehadlivedbytheTiber。WemustputthisscrapofevidencefurnishedbytheProfessorwiththeotherscraps；itmayturnoutofsomeconsequence，soonerorlater。Itislikeapieceofadissectedmap；itmeansalmostnothingbyitself，butwhenwefindthepiecesitjoinswithwemaydiscoveraveryimportantmeaninginit。

Inasmall，concentratedcommunitylikethatwhichcentredinandimmediatelyaroundArrowheadVillage，everydaymusthaveitslocalgossipaswellasitsgeneralnews。Thenewspapertellsthesmallcommunitywhatisgoingoninthegreatworld，andthebusytonguesofmaleandfemale，especiallythelatter，fillinwiththeoccurrencesandcommentsoftheever-stirringmicrocosm。ThefactthattheItalian，teacherhad，orthoughthehad，seenMauricetenyearsbeforewascirculatedandmadethemostof，——turnedoverandoverlikeacake，untilitwasthoroughlydoneonbothsidesandallthrough。Itwasaverysmallcake，butbetterthannothing。MissVincentheardthisstory，asothersdid，andtalkedaboutitwithherfriend，MissTower。Herewasonemorefacttohelpalong。

ThetwoyoungladieswhohadrecentlygraduatedattheCorinnaInstituteremained，astheyhadalwaysbeen，intimatefriends。Theywerethenaturalcomplementsofeachother。Euthymiarepresentedacomplete，symmetricalwomanhood。Heroutwardpresencewasonlyanindexofalarge，wholesome，affluentlife。Shecouldnothelpbeingcourageous，withsuchafirmorganization。Shecouldnothelpbeinggenerous，cheerful，active。Shehadbeentoldoftenenoughthatshewasfairtolookupon。SheknewthatshewascalledTheWonderbytheschoolmateswhoweredazzledbyhersingularaccomplishments，butshedidnotovervaluethem。Sherathertendedtodepreciateherowngifts，incomparisonwiththoseofherfriend，MissLuridaVincent。

Thetwoagreedallthebetterfordifferingastheydid。Theoctavemakesaperfectchord，whenshorterintervalsjarmoreorlessontheear。Eachadmiredtheotherwithaheartinesswhichiftheyhadbeenlessunlike，wouldhavebeenimpossible。

Itwasapleasantthingtoobservetheirdependenceoneachother。

TheTerroroftheschoolroomwastheoracleinherrelationswithherfriend。AllthefreedomofmovementwhichTheWondershowedinherbodilyexercisesTheTerrormanifestedintheworldofthought。Shewouldflingopenabook，anddecideinaswiftglancewhetherithadanymessageforher。Herteachershadcomparedherwayofreadingtothetakingofaninstantaneousphotograph。WhenshetookupthefirstbookonPhysiologywhichDr。Buttshandedher，itseemedtohimthatifsheonlyopenedatanyplace，andgaveonelook，herminddrankitsmeaningup，asamoistspongeabsorbswater。"WhatcanI

dowithsuchacreatureasthis？"hesaidtohimself。"Thereisonlyonewaytodealwithher，treatherasonetreatsasilkworm:

giveititsmulberryleaf，anditwillspinitsowncocoon。Giveherthebooks，andshewillspinherownwebofknowledge。”

"Doyoureallythinkofstudyingmedicine？"saidDr。Buttstoher。

"Ihaven"tmadeupmymindaboutthat，"sheanswered，"butIwanttoknowalittlemoreaboutthisterriblemachineryoflifeanddeathwearealltangledin。Iknowsomethingaboutit，butnotenough。I

findsomeverystrangebeliefsamongthewomenImeetwith，andI

wanttobeabletosilencethemwhentheyattempttoproselytemetotheirwhimsandfancies。Besides，Iwanttoknoweverything。”

"Theytellmeyoudo，already，"saidDr。Butts。

"Iamthemostignorantlittlewretchthatdrawsthebreathoflife!"

exclaimedTheTerror。

Thedoctorsmiled。Heknewwhatitmeant。Shehadreachedthatstageofeducationinwhichthevastdomainoftheunknownopensitsillimitableexpansebeforetheeyesofthestudent。Weneverknowtheextentofdarknessuntilitispartiallyilluminated。

"YoudidnotleavetheInstitutewiththereputationofbeingthemostignorantyoungladythatevergraduatedthere，"saidthedoctor。

"Theytellmeyougotthehighestmarksofanypupilontheirrecordsincetheschoolwasfounded。”

"Whatagrandthingitwastobethebiggestfishinoursmallaquarium，tobesure!"answeredTheTerror。"Hewassixincheslong，themonster，——alittletoobigforbaittocatchapickerelwith!

Whatdidyouhandmethatschoolbookfor？DidyouthinkIdidn"tknowanythingaboutthehumanbody？"

"YousaidyouweresuchanignorantcreatureIthoughtIwouldtryyouwithaneasybook，bywayofintroduction。”

TheTerrorwasnotconfusedbyherapparentself-contradiction。

"ImeantwhatIsaid，andImeanwhatIsay。WhenItalkaboutmyignorance，Idon"tmeasuremyselfwithschoolgirls，doctor。Idon"tmeasuremyselfwithmyteachers，either。YoumusttalktomeasifI

wereaman，agrownman，ifyoumeantoteachmeanything。Whereisyourhat，doctor？Letmetryiton。”

Thedoctorhandedherhiswide-awake。TheTerror"shairwasnotnaturallyabundant，likeEuthymia"s，andshekeptitcutrathershort。Herheadusedtogetveryhotwhenshestudiedhard。Shetriedtoputthehaton。

"Doyouseethat？"shesaid。"Icouldn"twearit——itwouldsqueezemyeyesoutofmyhead。Thebookstoldmethatwomen"sbrainsweresmallerthanmen"s:"perhapstheyare，——mostofthem，——Inevermeasuredagreatmany。Butwhentheytrytosettlewhatwomenaregoodfor，byphrenology，Iliketohavethemputtheirtaperoundmyhead。Idon"tbelieveintheirnonsense，forallthat。Youmightaswelltellmethatifonehorseweighsmorethananotherhorseheisworthmore，——acart-horsethatweighstwelveorfourteenhundredpoundsbetterthanEclipse，thatmayhaveweighedathousand。Givemealistofthebestbooksyoucanthinkof，andturnmelooseinyourlibrary。IcanfindwhatIwant，ifyouhaveit；andwhatI