第5章
don"tfindthereIwillgetatthePublicLibrary。Ishallwanttoaskyouaquestionnowandthen。”
Thedoctorlookedatherwithakindofadmiration，butthoughtfully，asifhefearedshewasthinkingofatasktooformidableforherslightconstitutionalresource。
Shereturned，instinctively，totheapparentcontradictioninherstatementsaboutherself。
"Iamnotafool，ifIamignorant。Yes，doctor，Isailonawideseaofignorance，butIhavetakensoundingsofsomeofitsshallowsandsomeofitsdepths。Yourprofessiondealswiththefactsoflifethatinterestmemostjustnow，andIwanttoknowsomethingofit。
PerhapsImayfinditacallingsuchaswouldsuitme。”
"Doyouseriouslythinkofbecomingapractitionerofmedicine？"saidthedoctor。
"Certainly，Iseriouslythinkofitasapossibility，butIwanttoknowsomethingmoreaboutitfirst。PerhapsIsha"n"tbelieveinmedicineenoughtopractiseit。PerhapsIsha"n"tlikeitwellenough。Nomatteraboutthat。Iwishtostudysomeofyourbestbooksonsomeofthesubjectsthatmostinterestme。Iknowaboutbonesandmusclesandallthat，andaboutdigestionandrespirationandsuchthings。Iwanttostudyupthenervoussystem，andlearnallaboutit。Iamofthenervoustemperamentmyself，andperhapsthatisthereason。Iwanttoreadaboutinsanityandallthatrelatestoit。”
Acuriousexpressionflittedacrossthedoctor"sfeaturesasTheTerrorsaidthis。
"Nervoussystem。Insanity。Shehasheadaches，Iknow，——allthoselarge-headed，hard-thinkinggirlsdo，asamatterofcourse；butwhathassetheroffaboutinsanityandthenervoussystem？Iwonderifanyofhermoreremoterelativesaresubjecttomentaldisorder。
Brightpeopleveryoftenhavecrazyrelations。Perhapssomeofherfriendsareinthatway。Iwonderwhether"——thedoctordidnotspeakanyofthesethoughts，andinfacthardlyshapedhis"whether，"forTheTerrorinterruptedhistrainofreflection，orratherstruckintoitinawaywhichstartledhim。
"WhereisthefirstvolumeofthisMedicalCyclopaedia？"sheasked，lookingatitsemptyplaceontheshelf。
"Onmytable，"thedoctoranswered。"Ihavebeenconsultingit。”
Luridaflungitopen，inhereagerway，andturnedthepagesrapidlyuntilshecametotheoneshewanted。Thedoctorcasthiseyeonthebeadingofthepage，andsawthelargelettersANT。
"Ithoughtso，"hesaidtohimself。"Weshallknoweverythingthereisinthebooksaboutantipathiesnow，ifweneverdidbefore。Shehasaspecialobjectinstudyingthenervoussystem，justasI
suspected。Ithinkshedoesnotcaretomentionitatthistime；butifshefindsoutanythingofinterestshewilltellme，ifshedoesanybody。Perhapsshedoesnotmeantotellanybody。Itisaratherdelicatebusiness，——ayounggirlstudyingthenaturalhistoryofayoungman。Notquitesosafeasbotanyorpalaeontology!
Lurida，latelyTheTerror，nowMissVincent，hadherownplans，andchosetokeepthemtoherself，forthepresent，atleast。Herhandswerefullenough，itmightseem，withoutundertakingthesolutionofthegreatArrowheadVillageenigma。Butshewasinthemostperfecttraining，sofarasherintelligencewasconcerned；andthesummerresthadrestoredherbodilyvigor，sothatherbrainwaslikeanoverchargedbatterywhichwillfindconductorssomewheretocarryoffitscrowdedenergy。
AtthistimeArrowheadVillagewasenjoyingthemostsuccessfulseasonithadeverknown。ThePansophianSocietyflourishedtoanextraordinarydegreeunderthefosteringcareofthenewSecretary。
Therectorwasagoodfigure-headasPresident，buttheSecretarywasthelifeoftheSociety。Communicationscameinabundantly:somefromthevillageanditsneighborhood，somefromtheUniversityandtheInstitute，somefromdistantandunknownsources。ThenewSecretarywasverybusywiththeworkofexaminingthesepapers。
Afteraforenoonsoemployed，thecarpetofherroomlookedlikeabarnfloorafterahusking-match。Aglanceatthemanuscriptsstrewedabout，orlyinginheaps，wouldhavefrightenedanyyoungwriterawayfromthethoughtofauthorshipasabusiness。Ifthecandidateforthatfearfulcallinghadseentheprocessofselectionandelimination，hewouldhavefeltstillmoredesperately。Apaperoftwentypageswouldcomein，withanunderscoredrequesttopleasereadthrough，carefully。Thatrequestaloneiscommonlysufficienttocondemnanypaper，andpreventitshavinganychanceofahearing；
buttheSecretarywasnothardenedenoughyetforthatkindofmartiallawindealingwithmanuscripts。Thelooker-onmighthaveseenhertakeupthepaper，castoneflashingglanceatitstitle，readthefirstsentenceandthelast，dipataventureintotwoorthreepages，anddecideasswiftlyasthelightningcalculatorwouldaddupacolumnoffigureswhatwastobeitsdestination。Ifrejected，itwentintotheheapontheleft；ifapproved，itwaslaidapart，tobesubmittedtotheCommitteefortheirjudgment。Thefoolishwriterswhoinsistonone"sreadingthroughtheirmanuscriptpoemsandstoriesoughttoknowhowfataltherequestistotheirprospects。Itprovokesthereader，tobeginwith。Thereadingofmanuscriptisfrightfulwork，atthebest；thereadingofworthlessmanuscript——andmostofthatwhichoneisrequestedtoreadthroughisworthless——wouldaddtotheterrorsofTartarus，ifanyinfernaldeitywereingeniousenoughtosuggestitasapunishment。
IfapaperwasrejectedbytheSecretary，itdidnotcomebeforetheCommittee，butwasreturnedtotheauthor，ifhesentforit，whichhecommonlydid。Itsnaturalcoursewastotryforadmissionintosomeoneofthepopularmagazines:into"TheSifter，"themostfastidiousofthemall；ifthatdeclinedit，into"TheSecondBest；"
andifthatreturnedit，into"TheOmnivorous。”Ifitwasrefusedadmittanceatthedoorsofallthemagazines，itmightatlengthfindshelterinthecornerofanewspaper，whereagooddealofveryreadableverseistobemetwithnowadays，someofwhichhasbeen，nodoubt，presentedtothePansophianSociety，butwasnotconsidereduptoitsstandard。
X
ANEWARRIVAL。
Therewasarecentaccessiontothetransientpopulationofthevillagewhichgaverisetosomespeculation。Thenew-comerwasayoungfellow，rathercarelessinhisexterior，butapparentlyasmuchathomeasifheownedArrowheadVillageandeverythinginit。Hecommonlyhadacigarinhismouth，carriedapocketpistol，ofthenon-explosivesort，andastickwithabulldog"sbeadforitsknob；
woreasoftbat，acoarsechecksuit，alittlebaggy，andgaiterbootswhichhadbeenhalf-soled，——aBohemian-lookingpersonage，altogether。
Thisindividualbeganmakingexplorationsineverydirection。Hewasverycuriousabouttheplaceandallthepeopleinit。HewasespeciallyinterestedinthePansophianSociety，concerningwhichhemadeallsortsofinquiries。ThisledhimtoformasummeracquaintancewiththeSecretary，whowaspleasedtogivehimwhateverinformationheaskedfor；beingproudoftheSociety，asshehadarighttobe，andknowingmoreaboutitthananybodyelse。
ThevisitorcouldnothavebeenlonginthevillagewithouthearingsomethingofMauriceKirkwood，andthestories，trueandfalse，connectedwithhisname。HequestionedeverybodywhocouldtellhimanythingaboutMaurice，andsetdowntheanswersinalittlenote-
bookhealwayshadwithhim。
Allthisnaturallyexcitedthecuriosityofthevillageaboutthisnewvisitor。Amongtherest，MissVincent，notwantinginanattributethoughttobelongmoreespeciallytohersex，becamesomewhatinterestedtoknowmoreexactlywhothisinquiring，note-
takingpersonage，whoseemedtobeeverywhereandtoknoweverybody，mighthimselfbe。MeetinghimatthePublicLibraryatafortunatemoment，whentherewasnobodybuttheoldLibrarian，whowashardofhearing，tointerferewiththeirconversation，thelittleSecretaryhadachancetotrytofindoutsomethingabouthim。
"Thisisaveryremarkablelibraryforasmallvillagetopossess，"
heremarkedtoMissLurida。
"Itis，indeed，"shesaid。"Haveyoufounditwellfurnishedwiththebooksyoumostwant？"
"Oh，yes，——booksenough。Idon"tcaresomuchforthebooksasIdofortheNewspapers。IlikeaReviewwellenough，——ittellsyouallthereisinabook；butagoodabstractoftheReviewinaNewspapersavesafellowthetroubleofreadingit。”
"Youfindthepapersyouwant，here，Ihope，"saidtheyounglady。
"Oh，Igetalongprettywell。It"smyoff-time，andIdon"tdomuchreadingorwriting。Whoisthecitycorrespondentofthisplace？"
"Idon"tthinkwehaveanyonewhowritesregularly。Nowandthen，thereisaletter，withthegossipoftheplaceinit，oranaccountofsomeofthedoingsatourSociety。Thecitypapersarealwaysgladtogetthereportsofourmeetings，andtoknowwhatisgoingoninthevillage。”
"IsupposeyouwriteabouttheSocietytothepapers，asyouaretheSecretary。”
Thiswasapoint-blankshot。Shemeanttoquestiontheyoungmanabouthisbusiness，andhereshewasonthewitness-stand。Sheduckedherhead，andletthequestiongooverher。
"Oh，thereareplentyofmemberswhoarewillingenoughtowrite，——
especiallytogiveanaccountoftheirownpapers。Ithinktheyliketohavemeputintheapplause，whentheygetany。Idothatsometimes。”(Howmuchmore，shedidnotsay。)
"Ihaveseensomeverywellwrittenarticles，which，fromwhattheytellmeoftheSecretary，Ishouldhavethoughtshemighthavewrittenherself。”
Helookedherstraightintheeyes。
"Ihavetransmittedsomegoodpapers，"shesaid，withoutwinking，orswallowing，orchangingcolor，preciouslittlecolorshehadtochange；herbrainwantedalltheblooditcouldborroworsteal，andmoretoo。"YouspokeofNewspapers，"shesaid，withoutanychangeoftoneormanner:"doyounotfrequentlywriteforthemyourself？"
"IshouldthinkIdid，"answeredtheyoungman。"Iamaregularcorrespondentof"ThePeople"sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。""
"Theregularcorrespondentfromwhere？"
"Where!Oh，anywhere，——theplacedoesnotmakemuchdifference。I
havebeenwritingchieflyfromNaplesandSt。Petersburg，andnowandthenfromConstantinople。”
"Howlongsinceyourreturntothiscountry，mayIask？"
"Myreturn？Ihaveneverbeenoutofthiscountry。Itravelwithagazetteerandsomeguide-books。Itisthecheapestway，andyoucangetthefactsmuchbetterfromthemthanbytrustingyourownobservation。IhavemadethetourofEuropebythehelpofthemandthenewspapers。ButoflateIhavetakentointerviewing。Ifindthataverypleasantspecialty。Itisaboutasgoodsportastrout-
tickling，andmuchthesamekindofbusiness。IshouldliketosendtheSocietyanaccountofoneofmyinterviews。Don"tyouthinktheywouldliketohearit？"
"Ihavenodoubttheywould。Sendittome，andIwilllookitover；
andiftheCommitteeapproveit，wewillhaveitatthenextmeeting。
YouknoweverythinghastobeexaminedandvotedonbytheCommittee，"saidthecautiousSecretary。
"Verywell，——Iwillriskit。Afteritisread，ifitisread，pleasesenditbacktome，asIwanttosellitto"TheSifter，"or"TheSecondBest，"orsomeofthepayingmagazines。”
Thisisthepaper，whichwasreadatthenextmeetingofthePansophianSociety。
"IwasorderedbytheeditorofthenewspapertowhichIamattached，"ThePeople"sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor，"tomakeavisittoacertainwell-knownwriter，andobtainalltheparticularsIcouldconcerninghimandallthatrelatedtohim。Ihaveinterviewedagoodmanypoliticians，whoIthoughtratherlikedtheprocess；butI
hadnevertriedanyoftheseliterarypeople，andIwasnotquitesurehowthisonewouldfeelaboutit。Isaidasmuchtothechief，buthepooh-poohedmyscruples。"Itisn"tourbusinesswhethertheylikeitornot，"saidhe；"thepublicwantsit，andwhatthepublicwantsit"sboundtohave，andweareboundtofurnishit。Don"tbeafraidofyourman；he"susedtoit，——he"sbeenpumpedoftenenoughtotakeiteasy，andwhatyou"vegottodoistopumphimdry。Youneedn"tbemodest，——askhimwhatyoulike；heisn"tboundtoanswer，youknow。"
Ashelivedinarathernicequarterofthetown，Ismartedmyselfupalittle，putonafreshcollarandcuffs，andgotafive-centshineonmybesthigh-lows。Isaidtomyself，asIwaswalkingtowardsthehousewherehelived，thatIwouldkeepveryshadyforawhileandpassforavisitorfromadistance；oneofthose"admiringstrangers"
whocallintopaytheirrespects，togetanautograph，andgohomeandsaythattheyhavemetthedistinguishedSoandSo，whichgivesthemacertaindistinctioninthevillagecircletowhichtheybelong。
"Myman，thecelebratedwriter，receivedmeinwhatwasevidentlyhisreception-room。Iobservedthathemanagedtogetthelightfullonmyface，whilehisownwasintheshade。Ihadmeanttohavehisfaceinthelight，butheknewthelocalities，andhadarrangedthingssoastogivehimthatadvantage。Itwasliketwofrigatesmanoeuvring，——eachtryingtogettowindwardoftheother。Inevertakeoutmynote-bookuntilIandmymanhavegotengagedinartlessandearnestconversation，——alwaysabouthimselfandhisworks，ofcourse，ifheisanauthor。
"Ibeganbysayingthathemustreceiveagoodmanycallers。Thosewhohadreadhisbookswerenaturallycurioustoseethewriterofthem。
"Heassented，emphatically，tothisstatement。Hehad，hesaid，agreatmanycallers。
"Iremarkedthattherewasaqualityinhisbookswhichmadehisreadersfeelasiftheyknewhimpersonally，andcausedthemtocherishacertainattachmenttohim。
"Hesmiled，asifpleased。Hewashimselfdisposedtothinkso，hesaid。Infact，agreatmanypersons，strangerswritingtohim，hadtoldhimso。
"Mydearsir，Isaid，thereisnothingwonderfulinthefactyoumention。Youreacharesponsivechordinmanyhumanbreasts。
"OnetouchofNaturemakesthewholeworldkin。"
Everybodyfeelsasifhe，andespeciallyshe(hiseyessparkled)，wereyourbloodrelation。Dotheynotnametheirchildrenafteryouveryfrequently？
"Heblushedperceptibly。"Sometimes，"heanswered。"Ihopetheywillallturnoutwell。"
"IamafraidIamtakinguptoomuchofyourtime，Isaid。
"No，notatall，"hereplied。"Comeupintomylibrary；itiswarmerandpleasanterthere。"
"IfeltconfidentthatIhadhimbytherighthandlethen；foranauthor"slibrary，whichiscommonlyhisworking-room，is，likealady"sboudoir，asacredapartment。
"Sowewentupstairs，andagainhegotmewiththedaylightonmyface，whenIwanteditonhas。
"Youhaveafinelibrary，Iremarked。Therewerebooksallroundtheroom，andoneofthosewhirligigsquarebook-cases。IsawinfrontaBibleandaConcordance，ShakespeareandMrs。CowdenClarke"sbook，andotherclassicalworksandbooksofgraveaspect。Icontrivedtogiveitaturn，andonthesidenextthewallIgotaglimpseofBarnum"sRhymingDictionary，andseveralDictionariesofQuotationsandcheapcompendsofknowledge。Alwaystwirloneofthoserevolvingbook-caseswhenyouvisitascholar"slibrary。Thatisthewaytofindoutwhatbookshedoesn"twantyoutosee，whichofcoursearetheonesyouparticularlywishtosee。
"Somemaycallallthisimpertinentandinquisitive。Whatdoyousupposeisaninterviewer"sbusiness？Didyoueverseeanoysteropened？Yes？Well，aninterviewer"sbusinessisthesamething。
Hismanishisoyster，whichhe，notwithsword，butwithpencilandnote-book，mustopen。Markhowtheoysterman"sthinbladeinsinuatesitself，——howgentlyatfirst，howstrenuouslywhenoncefairlybetweentheshells!
"Andhere，Isaid，youwriteyourbooks，——thosebookswhichhavecarriedyournametoallpartsoftheworld，andwillconveyitdowntoposterity!Isthisthedeskatwhichyouwrite？Andisthisthepenyouwritewith？
""Itisthedeskandtheverypen，"hereplied。
"Hewaspleasedwithmyquestionsandmywayofputtingthem。ItookupthepenasreverentiallyasifithadbeenmadeofthefeatherwhichtheangelIusedtoreadaboutinYoung"s"NightThoughts"
oughttohavedropped，anddidn"t。
"Wouldyoukindlywriteyourautographinmynote-book，withthatpen？Iaskedhim。Yes，hewould，withgreatpleasure。
"SoIgotoutmynote-book。
"Itwasaspickandspannewone，boughtonpurposeforthisinterview。Iadmireyourbookcases，saidI。Canyoutellmejusthowhightheyare？
""Theyareabouteightfeet，withthecornice。"
"Ishouldliketohavesomelikethose，ifIevergetrichenough，saidI。Eightfeet，——eightfeet，withthecornice。Imustputthatdown。
"SoIgotoutmypencil。
"Isattherewithmypencilandnote-bookinmyhand，allready，butnotusingthemasyet。
"Ihavehearditsaid，Iobserved，thatyoubeganwritingpoemsataveryearlyage。Isittakingtoogreatalibertytoaskhowearlyyoubegantowriteinverse？
"Hewasgettinginterested，aspeopleareapttobewhentheyarethemselvesthesubjectsofconversation。
""Veryearly，——Ihardlyknowhowearly。Icansaytruly，asLouiseColetsaid，"Jefismespremiersverssanssavoirlesecrire。""
"IamnotaverygoodFrenchscholar，saidI；perhapsyouwillbekindenoughtotranslatethatlineforme。
""Certainly。Withpleasure。Imademyfirstverseswithoutknowinghowtowritethem。"
"Howinteresting!ButIneverheardofLouiseColet。Whowasshe？
"Mymanwaspleasedtogi-vemeapieceofliteraryinformation。
""Louisethelioness!Neverheardofher？YouhaveheardofAlphonseKarr？"
"Why，——yes，——moreorless。Totellthetruth，IamnotverywellupinFrenchliterature。Whathadhetodowithyourlioness？
""Agooddeal。Hesatirizedher，andshewaitedathisdoorwithacase-knifeinherhand，intendingtostickhimwithit。Byandbyhecamedown，smokingacigarette，andwasmetbythiswomanflourishinghercase-knife。Hetookitfromher，aftergettingacutinhisdressing-gown，putitinhispocket，andwentonwithhiscigarette。
Hekeepsitwithaninscription:
DonneaAlphonseKarrParMadameLouiseColet……
Dansledos。
Livelylittlefemale!"
"Icouldn"thelpthinkingthatIshouldn"thavecaredtointerviewthelivelylittlefemale。HewasevidentlytickledwiththeinterestIappearedtotakeinthestoryhetoldme。Thatmadehimfeelamiablydisposedtowardme。
"Ibeganwithverygeneralquestions，butbydegreesIgotateverythingabouthisfamilyhistoryandthesmalleventsofhisboyhood。Someofthepointstoucheduponweredelicate，butIputagoodboldfaceonmymostaudaciousquestions，andsoIwormedoutagreatdealthatwasnewconcerningmysubject。Hehadbeenwrittenaboutconsiderably，andthepublicwouldn"thavebeensatisfiedwithoutsomenewfacts；andtheseImeanttohave，andIgot。Nomatteraboutmanyofthemnow，butherearesomequestionsandanswersthatmaybethoughtworthreadingorlisteningto:
"Howdoyouenjoybeingwhattheycall"acelebrity，"oracelebratedman？
""Sofarasone"svanityisconcerneditiswellenough。Butself-
loveisacupwithoutanybottom，andyoumightpourtheGreatLakesallthroughit，andneverfillitup。Itbreedsanappetiteformoreofthesamekind。Ittendstomakethecelebrityamerelumpofegotism。Itgeneratesacravingforhigh-seasonedpersonalitieswhichisindangerofbecomingslavery，likethatfollowingtheabuseofalcohol，oropium，ortobacco。Thinkofaman"shavingeveryday，byeverypost，lettersthattellhimheisthisandthatandtheother，withepithetsandendearments，onetenthpartofwhichwouldhavemadehimblushredhotbeforehebegantobewhatyoucallacelebrity!"
"Aretherenotsomespecialinconveniencesconnectedwithwhatiscalledcelebrity？
""Ishouldthinkso!Supposeyouwereobligedeverydayofyourlifetostandandshakehands，asthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshastoafterhisinauguration:howdoyouthinkyourhandwouldfeelafterafewmonths"practiceofthatexercise？Supposeyouhadgivenyouthirty-fivemillionsofmoneyayear，inhundred-dollarcoupons，onconditionthatyoucutthemalloffyourselfintheusualmanner:
howdoyouthinkyoushouldlikethelookofapairofscissorsattheendofayear，inwhichyouhadworkedtenhoursadayeverydaybutSunday，cuttingoffahundredcouponsanhour，andfoundyouhadnotfinishedyourtask，afterall？Yonhaveaddressedmeaswhatyouarepleasedtocall"aliterarycelebrity。”Iwon"tdisputewithyouastowhetherornotIdeservethattitle。IwilltakeitforgrantedIamwhatyoucallme，andgiveyousomefewhintsonmyexperience。
""YouknowtherewasformedawhileagoanAssociationofAuthorsforSelf-Protection。Itmeantwell，anditwashopedthatsomethingwouldcomeofitinthewayofrelievingthatoppressedclass，butI
amsorrytosaythatithasnoteffecteditspurpose。"
"IsuspectedhehadahandindrawinguptheConstitutionandLawsofthatAssociation。Yes，Isaid，anadmirableAssociationitwas，andasmuchneededastheoneforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals。
Iamsorrytohearthatithasnotprovedeffectualinputtingastoptotheabuseofadeservingclassofmen。Itoughttohavedoneit；
itwaswellconceived，anditspublicmanifestowasamasterpiece。
(Isawbyhisexpressionthathewasitsauthor。)
""IseeIcantrustyou，"hesaid。"Iwillunbosommyselffreelyofsomeofthegrievancesattachingtothepositionoftheindividualtowhomyouhaveappliedtheterm"LiteraryCelebrity。”
""Heissupposedtobeamillionaire，invirtueoftheimmensesalesofhisbooks，allthemoneyfromwhich，itistakenforgranted，goesintohispocket。Consequently，allsubscriptionpapersarehandedtohimforhissignature，andeveryneedystrangerwhohasheardhisnamecomestohimforassistance。
""Heisexpectedtosubscribeforallperiodicals，andisgoadedbyreceivingblankformulae，which，withtheirpromisestopay，heisexpectedtofillup。
""Hereceivestwoorthreebooksdaily，withrequeststoreadandgivehisopinionabouteachofthem，whichopinion，ifithasawordwhichcanbeusedasanadvertisement，hewillfindquotedinallthenewspapers。
""Hereceivesthickmassesofmanuscript，proseandverse，whichheiscalledupontoexamineandpronounceontheirmerits；thesemanuscriptshavingalmostinvariablybeenrejectedbytheeditorstowhomtheyhavebeensent，andhavingasarulenoliteraryvaluewhatever。
""Heisexpectedtosignpetitions，tocontributetojournals，towriteforfairs，toattendcelebrations，tomakeafter-dinnerspeeches，tosendmoneyforobjectshedoesnotbelieveintoplacesheneverheardof。
""Heiscalledontokeepupcorrespondenceswithunknownadmirers，whobeginbysayingtheyhavenoclaimuponhistime，andthenappropriateitbywritingpageafterpage，ifofthemalesex；andsheetaftersheet，ifoftheother。
""Ifapoet，itistakenforgrantedthathecansitdownatanymomentandspinoffanynumberofversesonanysubjectwhichmaybesuggestedtohim；suchascongratulationstothewriter"sgreat-
grandmotheronherreachingherhundredthyear，anelegyonaninfantagedsixweeks，anodefortheFourthofJulyinaWesterntownshipnottobefoundinLippincott"slastedition，perhapsavalentineforsomebucolicloverwhobelievesthatwooinginrhymeisthewaytowintheobjectofhisaffections。"
"Isn"titso？IaskedtheCelebrity。
""Iwouldbetontheproselover。Shewillshowtheversestohim，andtheywillbothhaveagoodlaughoverthem。"
"IhaveonlyreportedasmallpartoftheconversationIhadwiththeLiteraryCelebrity。Hewassomuchtakenupwithhispleasingself-
contemplation，whileImadehimairhisopinionsandfeelingsandspreadhischaracteristicsashislaundressspreadsandairshislinenontheclothes-line，thatIdon"tbelieveiteveroccurredtohimthathehadbeeninthehandsofanintervieweruntilhefoundhimselfexposedtothewindandsunshineinfulldimensionsinthecolumnsofThePeople"sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。""
Afterthereadingofthispaper，muchcuriositywasshownastowhothepersonspokenofasthe"LiteraryCelebrity"mightbe。AmongthevarioussuppositionsthestartlingideawassuggestedthathewasneithermorenorlessthantheunexplainedpersonageknowninthevillageasMauriceKirkwood。Whyshouldthatbehisrealname？WhyshouldnothebetheCelebrity，whohadtakenthisnameandfledtothisretreattoescapefromthepersecutionsofkindfriends，whowereprickinghimandstabbinghimnightodeathwiththeirdaggersofsugarcandy？
TheSecretaryofthePansophianSocietydeterminedtoquestiontheInterviewerthenexttimeshemethimattheLibrary，whichhappenedsoonafterthemeetingwhenhispaperwasread。
"Idonotknow，"shesaid，inthecourseofaconversationinwhichshehadspokenwarmlyofhiscontributiontotheliteraryentertainmentoftheSociety，"thatyoumentionedthenameoftheLiteraryCelebritywhomyouinterviewedsosuccessfully。”
"Ididnotmentionhim，MissVincent，"heanswered，"nordoIthinkitworthwhiletonamehim。Hemightnotcaretohavethewholestorytoldofhowhewashandledsoastomakehimcommunicative。
Besides，ifIdid，itwouldbringhimanewbatchofsympatheticletters，regrettingthathewasbotheredbythosehorridcorrespondents，fullofindignationattheboreswhopresumedtointrudeuponhimwiththeirpagesoftrash，allthewritersofwhichwouldexpectanswerstotheirlettersofcondolence。”
TheSecretaryaskedtheInterviewerifheknewtheyounggentlemanwhocalledhimselfMauriceKirkwood。
"What，"heanswered，"themanthatpaddlesabirchcanoe，andridesallthewildhorsesoftheneighborhood？No，Idon"tknowhim，butI
havemethimonceortwice，outwalking。Amightyshyfellow，theytellme。Doyouknowanythingparticularabouthim？"
"Notmuch。Noneofusdo，butweshouldliketo。Thestoryisthatbehasaqueerantipathytosomethingortosomebody，nobodyknowswhatorwhom。”
"Tonewspapercorrespondents，perhaps，"saidtheinterviewer。"Whatmadeyouaskmeabouthim？Youdidn"tthinkhewasmy"LiteraryCelebrity，"didyou？"
"Ididnotknow。Ithoughthemightbe。Whydon"tyouinterviewthismysteriouspersonage？Hewouldmakeagoodsensationforyourpaper，Ishouldthink。”
"Why，whatistheretobeinterviewedinhim？Isthereanystoryofcrime，oranythingelsetospiceacolumnorso，orevenafewparagraphs，with？Ifthereis，Iamwillingtohandlehimprofessionally。”
"Itoldyouhehaswhattheycallanantipathy。Idon"tknowhowmuchwiseryouareforthatpieceofinformation。”
"Anantipathy!Why，sohaveIanantipathy。Ihateaspider，andasforanakedcaterpillar，——IbelieveIshouldgointoafitifIhadtotouchone。IknowIturnpaleatthesightofsomeofthosegreatgreencaterpillarsthatcomedownfromtheelm-treesinAugustandearlyautumn。”
"Afraidofthem？"askedtheyounglady。
"Afraid？WhatshouldIbeafraidof？Theycan"tbiteorsting。I
can"tgiveanyreason。AllIknowisthatwhenIcomeacrossoneofthesecreaturesinmypathIjumptooneside，andcryout，——
sometimesusingveryimproperwords。Thefactis，theymakemecrazyforthemoment。”
"Iunderstandwhatyoumean，"saidMissVincent。"Iusedtohavethesamefeelingaboutspiders，butIwasashamedofit，andkeptalittlemenagerieofspidersuntilIhadgotoverthefeeling；thatis，prettymuchgotoverit，forIdon"tlovethecreaturesverydearly，thoughIdon"tscreamwhenIseeone。”
"Whatdidyoutellme，MissVincent，wasthisfellow"sparticularantipathy？"
Thatisjustthequestion。Itoldyouthatwedon"tknowandwecan"tguesswhatitis。Thepeopleherearetiredoutwithtryingtodiscoversomegoodreasonfortheyoungman"skeepingoutofthewayofeverybody，ashedoes。Theysayheisoddorcrazy，andtheydon"tseemtobeabletotellwhich。Itwouldmaketheoldladiesofthevillagesleepagreatdealsounder，——yes，andsomeoftheyoungladies，too，——iftheycouldfindoutwhatthisMr。Kirkwoodhasgotintohishead，thathenevercomesnearanyofthepeoplehere。”
"IthinkIcanfindout，"saidtheInterviewer，whoseprofessionalambitionwasbeginningtobeexcited。"InevercameacrossanybodyyetthatIcouldn"tgetsomethingoutof。Iamgoingtostayhereaweekortwo，andbeforeIgoIwillfindoutthesecret，ifthereisany，ofthisMr。MauriceKirkwood。”
WemustleavetheInterviewertohiscontrivancesuntiltheypresentuswithsomekindofresult，eitherintheshapeofsuccessorfailure。
XI
THEINTERVIEWERATTACKSTHESPHINX。
WhenMissEuthymiaTowersentheroaroffinflashingsplinters，asshepulledherlaststrokeintheboat-race，shedidnotknowwhatastrainshewasputtinguponit。Shedidknowthatshewasdoingherbest，buthowgreattheforceofherbestwasshewasnotawareuntilshesawitseffects。Unconsciousnessbelongedtoherrobustnature，inallitsmanifestations。Shedidnotprideherselfonherknowledge，norreproachherselfforherignorance。Ineverywaysheformedastrikingcontrasttoherfriend，MissVincent。Everywordtheyspokebetrayedthedifferencebetweenthem:thesharptonesofLurida"shead-voice，penetrative，aggressive，sometimesirritating，revealedthecorrespondingtraitsofmentalandmoralcharacter；thequiet，conversationalcontraltoofEuthymiawastheindexofanaturerestfulandsympathetic。
Thefriendshipsofyounggirlsprefigurethecloserrelationswhichwillonedaycomeinanddissolvetheirearlierintimacies。Thedependenceoftwoyoungfriendsmaybemutual，butonewillalwaysleanmoreheavilythantheother；themasculineandfeminineelementswillbeassuretoassertthemselvesasifthefriendswereofdifferentsexes。
OnallcommonoccasionsEuthymialookeduptoherfriendashersuperior。Shefullyappreciatedallhervariedgiftsandknowledge，anddeferredtoheropinioninevery-daymatters，notexactlyasanoracle，butaswiserthanherselforanyofherothercompanions。Itwasadifferentthing，however，whenthegraverquestionsoflifecameup。Luridawasfullofsuggestions，plans，projects，whichweretooliabletorunintowhimsbeforesheknewwheretheyweretending。
ShewouldlayoutherideasbeforeEuthymiasofluentlyandeloquentlythatshecouldnothelpbelievingthemherself，andfeelingasifherfriendmustacceptthemwithanenthusiasmlikeherown。ThenEuthymiawouldtakethemupwithhersweet，deliberateaccents，andbringhercalmerjudgmenttobearonthem。
Luridawasinanexcitedcondition，inthemidstofallhernewinterestsandoccupations。ShewasconstantlyonthelookoutforpaperstobereadatthemeetingsofherSociety，——forshemadeitherowningreatmeasure，byherzealandenthusiasm，——andinthemeantimeshewasreadinginvariousbookswhichDr。Buttsselectedforher，allbearingontheprofessiontowhich，atleastasapossibility，shewaslookingforward。Privatelyandinaverystillway，shewasoccupyingherselfwiththeproblemoftheyoungstranger，thesubjectofsomedelusion，ordisease，orobliquityofunknownnature，towhichthevaguenameofantipathyhadbeenattached。Euthymiakeptaneyeuponher，partlyinthefearthatover-excitementwouldproducesomementalinjury，andpartlyfromanxietylestsheshouldcompromiseherwomanlydignityinherdesiretogetatthetruthofaverypuzzlingquestion。
"HowdoyoulikethebooksIseeyoureading？"saidEuthymiatoLurida，oneday，astheymetattheLibrary。
"BetterthanallthenovelsIeverread，"sheanswered。"Ihavebeenreadingaboutthenervoussystem，anditseemstomeIhavecomenearerthespringsoflifethaneverbeforeinallmystudies。I
feeljustasifIwereatelegraphoperator。IwassurethatIhadabatteryinmyhead，forIknowmybrainworkslikeone；butIdidnotknowhowmanycentresofenergythereare，andhowtheyareplayeduponbyallsortsofinfluences，externalandinternal。Doyouknow，IbelieveIcouldsolvetheriddleofthe"ArrowheadVillageSphinx，"
asthepapercalledhim，ifhewouldonlystayherelongenough？"
"Whatpaperhashadanythingaboutit，Lurida？Ihavenotseenorheardofitsbeingmentionedinanyofthepapers。”
"Youknowthatratherqueer-lookingyoungmanwhohasbeenabouthereforsometime，——thesameonewhogavetheaccountofhisinterviewwithacelebratedauthor？Well，hehashandedmeacopyofapaperinwhichhewrites，"ThePeople"sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。"Hetalksaboutthisvillageinaveryfreeandeasyway。
HesaysthereisaSphinxhere，whohasmystifiedusall。”
"Andyouhavebeenchattingwiththatfellow!Don"tyouknowthathe"llhaveyouandallofusinhispaper？Don"tyouknowthatnothingissafewhereoneofthosefellowsgetsinwithhisnote-bookandpencil？Oh，Lurida，Lurida，dobecareful!"Whatwiththismysteriousyoungmanandthisveryquestionablenewspaper-paragraphwriter，youwillbetalkedabout，ifyoudon"tmind，beforeyouknowit。YouhadbetterlettheriddleoftheSphinxalone。Ifyoumustdealwithsuchdangerouspeople，thesafestwayistosetoneofthemtofindouttheother——Iwonderifwecan"tgetthisnewmantointerviewthevisitoryouhavesomuchcuriosityabout。Thatmightbemanagedeasilyenoughwithoutyourhavinganythingtodowithit。
Letmealone，andIwillarrangeit。Butmind，now，youmustnotmeddle；ifyoudo，youwillspoileverything，andgetyournameinthe"HouseholdInquisitor"inawayyouwon"tlike。”
"Don"tbefrightenedaboutme，Euthymia。Idon"tmeantogivehimachancetoworkmeintohispaper，ifIcanhelpit。Butifyoucangethimtotryhisskilluponthisinterestingpersonageandhisantipathy，somuchthebetter。Iamverycuriousaboutit，andthereforeabouthim。Iwanttoknowwhathasproducedthisstrangestateoffeelinginayoungmanwhooughttohaveallthecommoninstinctsofasocialbeing。Ibelievethereareunexplainedfactsintheregionofsympathiesandantipathieswhichwillrepaystudywithadeeperinsightintothemysteriesoflifethanwehavedreamedofhitherto。Ioftenwonderwhethertherearenotheart-wavesandsoul-wavesaswellas"brain-waves，"whichsomehavealreadyrecognized。”
Euthymiawondered，aswellshemight，tohearthisyoungwomantalkingthelanguageofsciencelikeanadept。Thetruthis，Luridawasoneofthosepersonswhoneverareyoung，andwho，bywayofcompensation，willneverbeold。Theyarefoundinbothsexes。Twowell-knowngraduatesofoneofourgreatuniversitiesarelivingexamplesofthisprecociousbutenduringintellectualdevelopment。
Ifthereadersofthisnarrativecannotpickthemout，theyneednotexpectthewriterofittohelpthem。Iftheyguessrightlywhotheyare，theywillrecognizethefactthatjustsuchexceptionalindividualsastheyoungwomanwearedealingwitharemetwithfromtimetotimeinfamilieswhereintelligencehasbeencumulativefortwoorthreegenerations。
Euthymiawasverywillingthatthequestioningandquestionablevisitorshouldlearnallthatwasknowninthevillageaboutthenebulousindividualwhosemistyenvironmentalltheeyesinthevillageweretryingtopenetrate，butthatheshouldlearnitfromsomeotherinformantthanLurida。
Thenextmorning，astheInterviewertookhisseatonabenchoutsidehisdoor，tosmokehisafter-breakfastcigar，abright-lookingandhandsomeyouth，whosefeaturesrecalledthoseofEuthymiasostrikinglythatonemightfeelprettysurehewasherbrother，tookaseatbyhisside。Presentlythetwowereengagedinconversation。
TheIntervieweraskedallsortsofquestionsabouteverybodyinthevillage。WhenhecametoinquireaboutMaurice，theyouthshowedaremarkableinterestregardinghim。Thegreatestcuriosity，hesaid，existedwithreferencetothispersonage。Everybodywastryingtofindoutwhathisstorywas，——forastory，andastrangeone，hemustsurelyhave，——andnobodyhadsucceeded。
TheInterviewerbegantobeunusuallyattentive。Theyoungmantoldhimthevariousantipathystories，abouttheevil-eyehypothesis，abouthishorse-tamingexploits，hisrescuingthestudentwhoseboatwasoverturned，andeveryoccurrencehecouldrecallwhichwouldhelpouttheeffectofhisnarrative。
TheInterviewerwasbecomingexcited。"Can"tfindoutanythingabouthim，yousaid，didn-"tyou？Howdoyouknowthere"sanythingtofind？DoyouwanttoknowwhatIthinkheis？I"lltellyou。I
thinkheisanactor，——afellowfromoneofthecitytheatres。Thosefellowsgooffintheirsummervacation，andliketopuzzlethecountryfolks。Theyaretheverysamechaps，likeasnot，thevisitorshaveseeninplaysatthecitytheatres；butofcoursetheydon"tknow"eminplainclothes。KingsandEmperorslookprettyshabbyoffthestagesometimes，Icantellyou。”
TheyoungmanfollowedtheInterviewer"slead。"Ishouldn"twonderifyouwereright，"hesaid。"IrememberseeingayoungfellowinRomeothatlookedagooddeallikethisone。ButInevermettheSphinx，astheycallhim，facetoface。Heisasshyasawoodchuck。
Ibelievetherearepeopleherethatwouldgiveahundreddollarstofindoutwhoheis，andwherehecamefrom，andwhatheisherefor，andwhyhedoesn"tactlikeotherfolks。Iwonderwhysomeofthosenewspapermendon"tcomeuphereandgetholdofthisstory。Itwouldbejustthethingforasensationalwriter。”
ToallthistheInterviewerlistenedwithtrueprofessionalinterest。
Alwaysonthelookoutforsomethingtomakeupaparagraphoracolumnabout；drivenoftentimestothestalestofrepetitions，——tothebiggestpumpkinstory，thetallcornstalk，thefatox，thelivefrogfromthehumanstomachstory，thethirdsetofteethandreadingwithoutspectaclesatninetystory，andtherestofthemarvellouscommonplaceswhicharekeptintypewitheoyore6m(everyotheryearoreverysixmonths)atthefoot；alwaysinwantofafreshincident，anewstory，anundescribedcharacter，anunexplainedmystery，itisnowonderthattheInterviewerfastenedeagerlyuponthismosttemptingsubjectforaninventiveandemotionalcorrespondent。
HehadseenPaoloseveraltimes，andknewthathewasMaurice"sconfidentialservant，buthadneverspokentohim。SohesaidtohimselfthathemustmakePaolo"sacquaintance，tobeginwith。InthesummerseasonmanykindsofsmalltrafficwerealwayscarriedoninArrowheadVillage。Amongtherest，thesellersoffruits——
oranges，bananas，andothers，accordingtotheseasons——didanactivebusiness。TheInterviewerwatchedoneofthesefruit-sellers，andsawthathishand-cartstoppedoppositethehousewhere，asheknew，MauriceKirkwoodwasliving。PresentlyPaolocameoutofthedoor，andbeganexaminingthecontentsofthehand-cart。TheInterviewersawhisopportunity。Herewasanintroductiontotheman，andthemanmustintroducehimtothemaster。
Heknewverywellhowtoingratiatehimselfwiththeman，——therewasnodifficultyaboutthat。Hehadlearnedhisname，andthathewasanItalianwhomMauricehadbroughttothiscountrywithhim。
"Goodmorning，Mr。Paul，"hesaid。"Howdoyoulikethelookoftheseoranges？"
"Theyprettyfair，"saidPaolo:"nosogoodasthemlas"week；nosweetasthemwas。”
"Why，howdoyouknowwithouttastingthem？"saidtheInterviewer。
"Iknowbyhislook，——Iknowbyhissmell，——henogoodyaller，——henosmellripe，——Iknoworangeeversincemyheadnobiggerthanheis，"
andPaololaughedathisowncomparison。
TheInterviewerlaughedlouderthanPaolo。
"Good!"saidhe，——"first-rate!Ofcourseyouknowallabout"em。
Whycan"tyoupickmeoutacoupleofwhatyouthinkarethebestof"em？Ishallbegreatlyobligedtoyou。Ihaveasickfriend，andI
wanttogettwonicesweetonesforhim。”
Paolowaspleased。Hisskillandjudgmentwererecognized。Hefeltgratefultothestranger，whohadgivenhim，anopportunityofconferringafavor。Heselectedtwo，aftercarefulexaminationandgravedeliberation。TheInterviewerhadsenseandtactenoughnottoofferhimanorange，andsoshiftthebalanceofobligation。
"HowisMr。Kirkwood，to-day？"heasked。
"Signor？Heverywell。Healwayswell。Whyyouask？Anybodytellyouhesick？"
"No，nobodysaidhewassick。Ihaven"tseenhimgoingaboutforadayortwo，andIthoughtbemighthavesomethingthematterwithhim。Isheinthehousenow？"
"No:heoffriding。Hetakelong，longrides，sometimegoneallday。
Sometimehegoonlake，paddle，paddleinthemorning，very，veryearly，——innightwhenthemoonshine；sometimestayinhouse，andread，andstudy，andwrite，——hegreatscholar，MisserKirkwood。”
"Agoodmanybooks，hasn"the？"
"Hegotwholeshelfsfullofbooks。Greatbooks，littlebooks，oldbooks，newbooks，allsortsofbooks。Hegreatscholar，Itellyou。”
"Hasn"thesomecuriosities，——oldfigures，oldjewelry，oldcoins，orthingsofthatsort？"
Paololookedattheyoungmancautiously，almostsuspiciously。
"Hedon"tkeepnojewelsnornomoneyinhischamber。Hegotsomeoldthings，——oldjugs，oldbrassfiggers，oldmoney，suchastheyusedtohaveinoldtimes:shedon"tpassnow。”Paolo"sgenderswereapttobesomewhatindiscriminatelydistributed。
AluckythoughtstrucktheInterviewer。"Iwonderifhewouldexaminesomeoldcoinsofmine？"saidhe，inamodestlytentativemanner。
"Ithinkheliketoseeanythingcurious。WhenhecomehomeIaskhim。WhowillItellhimwantstoaskhimaboutoldcoin？"
"TellhimagentlemanvisitingArrowheadVillagewouldliketocallandshowhimsomeoldpiecesofmoney，saidtobeRomanones。”
TheInterviewerhadjustrememberedthathehadtwoorthreeoldbatteredbitsofcopperwhichhehadpickedupatatollman"s，wheretheyhadbeenpassedoffforcents。Hehadboughtthemascuriosities。OnehadthenameofGallienusuponit，tolerablydistinct，——acommonlittleRomanpenny；butitwouldservehispurposeofaskingaquestion，aswouldtwoorthreeotherswithlesslegiblelegends。PaolotoldhimthatifhecamethenextmorninghewouldstandafairchanceofseeingMr。Kirkwood。Atanyrate，hewouldspeaktohismaster。
TheInterviewerpresentedhimselfthenextmorning，afterfinishinghisbreakfastandhiscigar，feelingreasonablysureoffindingMr。
Kirkwoodathome，asheprovedtobe。HehadtoldPaolotoshowthestrangeruptohislibrary，——orstudy，ashemodestlycalledit。
Itwasapleasantroomenough，withalookoutonthelakeinonedirection，andthewoodedhillinanother。Thetenanthadfitteditupinscholarlyfashion。ThebooksPaolospokeofwereconspicuous，manyofthem，bytheirwhitevellumbindingandtastefulgilding，showingthatprobablytheyhadbeenboundinRome，orsomeotherItaliancity。Withthesewereoldervolumesintheirdarkoriginalleather，andrecentonesinclothorpaper。AstheInterviewerranhiseyeoverthem，hefoundthathecouldmakeverylittleoutofwhattheirbackstaughthim。Someofthepaper-coveredbooks，someofthecloth-coveredones，hadnameswhichheknew；butthoseonthebacksofmanyoftheotherswerestrangetohiseyes。TheclassicsofGreekandLatinandItalianliteraturewerethere；andhesawenoughtofeelconvincedthathehadbetternotattempttodisplayhiseruditioninthecompanyofthisyoungscholar。