第14章

Delilah。

ImustcallherbythenamewegaveheraftershehadtrimmedtheSamsonlocksofourProfessor。Delilahisapuzzletomostofus。

Aprettycreature,dangerouslyprettytobeinastationnotguardedbyalltheprotectivearrangementswhichsurroundthemaidensofahighersocialorder。Ittakesastrongcagetokeepinatigeroragrizzlybear,butwhatironbars,whatbarbedwires,cankeepoutthesmoothandsubtleenemythatfindsoutthecagewherebeautyisimprisoned？OuryoungDoctorisevidentlyattractedbythecharmingmaidenwhoserveshimandussomodestlyandsogracefully。

Fortunately,theMistressneverlosessightofher。Ifshewereherowndaughter,shecouldnotbemorewatchfulofallhermovements。

AndyetIdonotbelievethatDelilahneedsallthisoverlooking。IfIamnotmistaken,sheknowshowtotakecareofherself,andcouldbetrustedanywhere,inanycompany,withoutaduenna。Shehasahistory,——Ifeelsureofit。Shehasbeentrainedandtaughtasyoungpersonsofhigherpositioninlifearebroughtup,anddoesnotbelonginthehumblestationinwhichwefindher。ButinasmuchastheMistresssaysnothingaboutherantecedents,wedonotliketobetooinquisitive。ThetwoAnnexesare,itisplain,verycuriousabouther。Icannotwonder。Theyarebothgood—lookinggirls,butDelilahisprettierthaneitherofthem。Mysightisnotsogoodasitwas,butIcanseethewayinwhichtheeyesoftheyoungpeoplefolloweachotheraboutplainlyenoughtosetmethinkingastowhatisgoingoninthethinkingmarrowbehindthem。TheyoungDoctor"sfollowDelilahassheglidesroundthetable,——theylookintoherswhenevertheygetachance;butthegirl"sneverbetrayanyconsciousnessofit,sofarasIcansee。Thereisnomistakingtheinterestwithwhichthetwo,Annexeswatchallthis。Whyshouldn"tthey,Ishouldliketoknow？TheDoctorisabrightyoungfellow,andwantsnothingbutabaldspotandawifetofindhimselfinacomfortablefamilypractice。OneoftheAnnexes,asIhavesaid,。

hashadthoughtsofbecomingadoctress。Idon"tthinktheDoctorwouldwanthiswifetopractisemedicine,forreasonswhichIwillnotstoptomention。Suchapartnershipsometimesworkswonderfullywell,asinonewell—knowninstancewherehusbandandwifearebotheminentintheprofession;butouryoungDoctorhassaidtomethathehadratherseehiswife,——ifheevershouldhaveone,——atthepianothanatthedissecting—table。OfcoursetheAnnexesknownothingaboutthis,andtheymaythink,asheprofessedhimselfwillingtolectureonmedicinetowomen,hemightliketotakeoneofhispupilsasahelpmeet。

IfitwerenotforourDelilah"shumbleposition,Idon"tseewhyshewouldnotbeagoodmatchforanyyoungman。Butthenitissohardtotakeayoungwomanfromsoverylowlyaconditionasthatofa"waitress"thatitwouldrequireadealofcouragetoventureonsuchastep。Ifwecouldonlyfindoutthatsheisaprincessindisguise,sotospeak,——thatis,ayoungpersonofpresentableconnectionsaswellaspleasinglooksandmanners;thatshehashadaneducationofsomekind,aswesuspectedwhensheblushedonhearingherselfspokenofasa"gentillepetite,"why,theneverythingwouldbeallright,theyoungDoctorwouldhaveplainsailing,——thatis,ifbeisinlovewithher,andifshefancieshim,——andIshouldfindmylove—story,——theoneIexpected,butnotbetweenthepartiesIhadthoughtwouldbematingwitheachother。

DearlittleDelilah！Lilyofthevalley,growingintheshadenow,——

perhapsbetterthereuntilherpetalsdrop;andyetifsheisallI

oftenfancysheis,howheryouthfulpresencewouldilluminateandsweetenahousehold！Thereisnotoneofuswhodoesnotfeelinterestedinher,——notoneofuswhowouldnotbedelightedatsomeCinderellatransformationwhichwouldshowherinthesettingNaturemeantforherfavorite。

ThefancyofNumberSevenaboutthewitches"broomstickssuggestedtooneofusthefollowingpoem:

THEBROOMSTICKTRAIN;

OR,THERETURNOFTHEWITCHES。

Lookout！Lookout,boys！Clearthetrack！

Thewitchesarehere！They"veallcomeback！

Theyhangedthemhigh,——Nouse！Nouse！

Whatcaresawitchforahangman"snoose？

Theyburiedthemdeep,buttheywouldn"tlie,still,Forcatsandwitchesarehardtokill;

Theysworetheyshouldn"tandwouldn"tdie,Bookssaidtheydid,buttheylie！theylie！

——Acoupleofhundredyears,orso,Theyhadknockedaboutintheworldbelow,WhenanEssexDeacondroppedintocall,Andahomesickfeelingseizedthemall;

Forhecamefromaplacetheyknewfullwell,Andmanyatalehehadtotell。

Theylongtovisitthehauntsofmen,Toseetheolddwellingstheyknewagain,AndrideontheirbroomsticksallaroundTheirwidedomainofunhallowedground。

InEssexcountythere"smanyaroofWellknowntohimoftheclovenhoof;

ThesmallsquarewindowsarefullinviewWhichthemidnighthagswentsailingthrough,Ontheirwell—trainedbroomsticksmountedhigh,Seenlikeshadowsagainstthesky;

Crossingthetrackofowlsandbats,Huggingbeforethemtheircoal—blackcats。

Welldidtheyknow,thosegrayoldwives,ThesightsweseeinourdailydrivesShimmeroflakeandshineofsea,Brown"sbarehillwithitslonelytree,（Itwasn"tthenasweseeitnow,Withonescantscalp—locktoshadeitsbrow;）

DuskynooksintheEssexwoods,Dark,dim,Dante—likesolitudes,Wherethetree—toadwatchesthesinuoussnakeGlidethroughhisforestsoffernandbrake;

IpswichRiver;itsoldstonebridge;

FaroffAndover"sIndianRidge,AndmanyascenewherehistorytellsSomeshadowofbygoneterrordwells,Of"Norman"sWoe"withitstaleofdread,OftheScreechingWomanofMarblehead,（ThefearfulstorythatturnsmenpaleDon"tbidmetellit,——myspeechwouldfail。）

Whowouldnot,willnot,ifhecan,BatheinthebreezesoffairCapeAnn,Restinthebowersherbaysenfold,Lovedbythesachemsandsquawsofold？

Homewherethewhitemagnoliasbloom,Sweetwiththebayberry"schasteperfume,HuggedbythewoodsandkissedbythesealWhereistheEdenliketothee？

Forthat"coupleofhundredyears,orso,"

Therehadbeennopeaceintheworldbelow;

Thewitchesstillgrumbling,"Itisn"tfair;

Come,giveusatasteoftheupperair！

We"vehadenoughofyoursulphursprings,Andtheevilodorthatroundthemclings;

Welongforadrinkthatiscoolandnice,GreatbucketsofwaterwithWenhamice;

We"veservedyouwellup—stairs,youknow;

You"reagoodold—fellow——come,letusgo！"

Idon"tfeelsureofhisbeinggood,Buthehappenedtobeinapleasantmood,Asfiendswiththeirskinsfullsometimesare,（He"dbeendrinkingwith"roughs"ataBostonbar。）

SowhatdoeshedobutupandshoutToagraybeardturnkey,"Let"emout！"

Tomindhisorderswasallheknew;

Thegatesswungopen,andouttheyflew。

"Whereareourbroomsticks？"thebeldamscried。

"Hereareyourbroomsticks,"animpreplied。

"They"vebeenin——theplaceyouknow——solongTheysmellofbrimstoneuncommonstrong;

Butthey"vegainedbybeingleftalone,Justlook,andyou"llseehowtallthey"vegrown。"

——Andwhereismycat？"avixensqualled。

Yes,whereareourcats？"thewitchesbawled,Andbegantocallthemallbyname:

Asfastastheycalledthecats,theycameTherewasbob—tailedTommyandlong—tailedTim,Andwall—eyedJackyandgreen—eyedJim,Andsplay—footBennyandslim—leggedBeau,AndSkinnyandSqually,andJerryandJoe,Andmanyanotherthatcameatcall,Itwouldtaketoolongtocountthemall。

Allblack,——onecouldhardlytellwhichwaswhich,Buteverycatknewhisownoldwitch;

Andsheknewhersashersknewher,Ah,didn"ttheycurltheirtailsandpurr！

NosoonerthewitheredhagswerefreeThanouttheyswarmedforamidnightspree;

Icouldn"ttellalltheydidinrhymes,ButtheEssexpeoplehaddreadfultimes。

TheSwampscottfishermenstillrelateHowastrangesea—monsterstolethairbait;

Howtheirnetsweretangledinloopsandknots,Andtheyfounddeadcrabsintheirlobster—pots。

PoorDanversgrievedforherblastedcrops,AndWilmingtonmournedovermildewedhops。

AblightplayedhavocwithBeverlybeans,Itwasalltheworkofthosehatefulqueans！

Adreadfulpanicbeganat"Pride"s,"

Wherethewitchesstoppedintheirmidnightrides,Andthererosestrangerumorsandvaguealarms"MidthepeacefuldwellersatBeverlyFarms。

NowwhentheBossoftheBeldamsfoundThatwithouthisleavetheywererampinground,Hecalled,——theycouldhearhimtwentymiles,>FromChelseabeachtotheMiseryIsles;

ThedeafestoldgrannyknewhistoneWithoutthetrickofthetelephone。

"Comehere,youwitches！Comehere！"sayshe,——

"Atyourgamesofold,withoutaskingmeI"llgiveyoualittlejobtodoThatwillkeepyoustirring,yougodlesscrew！"

Theycame,ofcourse,attheirmaster"scall,Thewitches,thebroomsticks,thecats,andall;

HeledthehagstoarailwaytrainThehorsesweretryingtodraginvain。

"Now,then,"sayshe,"you"vehadyourfun,Andherearethecarsyou"vegottorun。

Thedrivermayjustunhitchhisteam,Wedon"twanthorses,wedon"twantsteam;

Youmaykeepyouroldblackcatstohug,Buttheloadedtrainyou"vegottolug。"

Sincethenonmanyacaryou"llseeAbroomstickplainasplaincanbe;

Oneverystickthere"sawitchastride,Thestringyouseetoherlegistied。

Shewilldoamischiefifshecan,Butthestringisheldbyacarefulman,Andwhenevertheevil—mindedwitchWouldcutcomecaper,hegivesatwitch。

Asforthehag,youcan"tseeher,Buthark！youcanhearherblackcat"spurr,Andnowandthen,asacargoesby,Youmaycatchagleamfromherwickedeye。

Oftenyou"velookedonarushingtrain,Butjustwhatmoveditwasnotsoplain。

Itcouldn"tbethosewiresabove,Fortheycouldneitherpullnorshove;

WherewasthemotorthatmadeitgoYoucouldn"tguess,butnowyouknow。

RemembermyrhymeswhenyourideagainOntherattlingrailbythebroomsticktrain！

X

InmylastreportofourtalksovertheteacupsIhadsomethingtosayofthefondnessofourpeoplefortitles。Wheredidtheanti—

republican,anti—democraticpassionforswellingnamescomefrom,andhowlonghasitbeennaturalizedamongus？

Astrikinginstanceofitoccurredatabouttheendofthelastcentury。ItwasatthattimethereappearedamongusoneofthemostoriginalandsingularpersonagestowhomAmericahasgivenbirth。

Manyofourcompany,——manyofmyreaders,——allwellacquaintedwithhisname,andnotwhollyignorantofhishistory。Theywillnotobjecttomygivingsomeparticularsrelatingtohim,which,ifnotnewtothem,willbenewtoothersintowhosehandsthesepagesmayfall。

TimothyDexter,thefirstclaimantofatitleofnobilityamongthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,wasborninthetownofMalden,nearBoston。Heservedanapprenticeshipasaleather—

dresser,savedsomemoney,gotsomemorewithhiswife,begantradingandspeculating,andbecameatlastrich,forthosedays。Hismostfamousbusinessenterprisewasthatofsendinganinvoiceofwarming—

panstotheWestIndies。Afewtonsoficewouldhaveseemedtopromiseabetterreturn;butinpointoffact,hetellsus,thewarming—panswerefoundusefulinthemanufactureofsugar,andbroughthiminahandsomeprofit。Hisambitionrosewithhisfortune。HepurchasedalargeandstatelyhouseinNewburyport,andproceededtoembellishandfurnishitaccordingtothedictatesofhistasteandfancy。Inthegroundsabouthishouse,hecausedtobeerectedbetweenfortyandfiftywoodenstatuesofgreatmenandallegoricalfigures,togetherwithfourlionsandonelamb。AmongtheseimagesweretwostatuesofDexterhimself,oneofwhichheldalabelwithacharacteristicinscription。Hishousewasornamentedwithminarets,adornedwithgoldenballs,andsurmountedbyalargegilteagle。Heequippeditwithcostlyfurniture,withpaintings,andalibrary。Hewentsofarastoprocuretheservicesofapoetlaureate,whosebusinessitseemstohavebeentosinghispraises。

Surroundedwithsplendorslikethese,theplaintitleof"Mr。"Dexterwouldhavebeeninfinitelytoomeanandcommon。Hethereforeboldlytookthestepofself—ennobling,andgavehimselfforth——ashesaid,obeying"thevoiceofthepeopleatlarge"——as"LordTimothyDexter,"

bywhichappellationhehaseversincebeenknowntotheAmericanpublic。

IftobethepioneerintheintroductionofOldWorldtitlesintorepublicanAmericacanconferaclaimtoberememberedbyposterity,LordTimothyDexterhasarighttohistoricimmortality。IfthetrueAmericanspiritshowsitselfmostclearlyinboundlessself—

assertion,TimothyDexteristhegreatoriginalAmericanegotist。IftothrowofftheshacklesofOldWorldpedantry,anddefythepaltryrulesandexamplesofgrammariansandrhetoricians,isthespecialprovinceandthecharteredprivilegeoftheAmericanwriter,TimothyDexteristhefounderofanewschool,whichtramplesunderfoottheconventionalitiesthathamperedandsubjugatedthefacultiesofthepoets,thedramatists,thehistorians,essayists,story—tellers,orators,oftheworn—outraceswhichhaveprecededthegreatAmericanpeople。

ThematerialtracesofthefirstAmericannobleman"sexistencehavenearlydisappeared。Thehouseisstillstanding,butthestatues,theminarets,thearches,andthememoryofthegreatLordTimothyDexterlivechieflyintradition,andintheworkwhichbebequeathedtoposterity,andofwhichIshallsayafewwords。Itisunquestionablyathoroughlyoriginalproduction,andIfearthatsomereadersmaythinkIamtriflingwiththemwhenIamquotingitliterally。IamgoingtomakeastrongclaimforLordTimothyasagainstothercandidatesforacertainelevatedposition。

ThomasJeffersoniscommonlyrecognizedasthefirsttoproclaimbeforetheworldthepoliticalindependenceofAmerica。Itisnotsogenerallyagreeduponastowhowasthefirsttoannouncetheliteraryemancipationofourcountry。

OneofMr。Emerson"sbiographershasclaimedthathisPhiBetaKappaOrationwasourDeclarationofLiteraryIndependence。ButMr。

EmersondidnotcuthimselfloosefromallthetraditionsofOldWorldscholarship。Hespelledhiswordscorrectly,heconstructedhissentencesgrammatically。Headheredtotheslavishrulesofpropriety,andobservedthereticenceswhichatraditionaldelicacyhasconsideredinviolableindecentsociety,EuropeanandOrientalalike。Whenhewrotepoetry,hecommonlyselectedsubjectswhichseemedadaptedtopoeticaltreatment,——apparentlythinkingthatallthingswerenotequallycalculatedtoinspirethetruepoet"sgenius。

Once,indeed,heventuredtoreferto"themealinthefirkin,themilkinthepan,"buthechieflyrestrictedhimselftosubjectssuchasafastidiousconventionalismwouldapproveashavingacertainfitnessforpoeticaltreatment。Hewasnotalwayssocarefulashemighthavebeenintherhythmandrhymeofhisverse,butinthemainherecognizedtheoldestablishedlawswhichhavebeenacceptedasregulatingboth。Inshort,withallhisoriginality,heworkedinOldWorldharness,andcannotbeconsideredasthecreatorofatrulyAmerican,self—governed,self—centred,absolutelyindependentstyleofthinkingandwriting,knowingnolawbutitsownsovereignwillandpleasure。

AstrongerclaimmightbeurgedforMr。Whitman。HetakesintohishospitablevocabularywordswhichnoEnglishdictionaryrecognizesasbelongingtothelanguage,——wordswhichwillbelookedforinvainoutsideofhisownpages。Heacceptsaspoeticalsubjectsallthingsalike,commonandunclean,withoutdiscrimination,miscellaneousasthecontentsofthegreatsheetwhichPetersawletdownfromheaven。

Hecarriestheprincipleofrepublicanismthroughthewholeworldofcreatedobjects。Hewill"threadathreadthrough[his]poems,"hetellsus,"thatnoonethingintheuniverseisinferiortoanotherthing。"NomanhaseverassertedthesurpassingdignityandimportanceoftheAmericancitizensoboldlyandfreelyasMr。

Whitman。Hecallshimself"teacheroftheunquenchablecreed,namely,egotism。"Hebeginsoneofhischants,"Icelebratemyself,"

buthetakesusallinaspartnersinhisself—glorification。HebelievesinAmericaasthenewEden。

"Aworldprimalagain,——vistasofgloryincessantandbranching,Anewracedominatingpreviousonesandgranderfar,Newpolitics——newliteratureandreligions——newinventionsandarts。"

Ofthenewliteraturebehimselfhasfurnishedspecimenswhichcertainlyhavealltheoriginalityhecanclaimforthem。Sofarasegotismisconcerned,hewasclearlyanticipatedbythetitledpersonagetowhomIhavereferred,whosaysofhimself,"IamthefirstintheEast,thefirstintheWest,andthegreatestphilosopherintheWesternworld。"ButwhileMr。Whitmandivestshimselfofapartofhisbaptismalname,thedistinguishedNewEnglanderthusannounceshisproudposition:"ImethefirstLordintheyounitedStatesofAmercaryNowofNewburyport。itisthevoiceofthepeopelandIcantHelpit。"Thisextractisfromhisfamouslittlebookcalled"APicklefortheKnowingOnes。"AsaninventorofanewAmericanstylehegoesfarbeyondMr。Whitman,who,tobesure,careslittleforthedictionary,andmakeshisownrulesofrhythm,sofarasthereisanyrhythminhissentences。ButLordTimothyspellstosuithimself,andinplaceofemployingpunctuationasitiscommonlyused,printsaseparatepageofperiods,colons,semicolons,commas,notesofinterrogationandofadmiration,withwhichthereaderisrequestedto"peperandsoolt"thebookashepleases。

IamafraidthatMr。EmersonandMr。WhitmanmustyieldtheclaimofdeclaringAmericanliteraryindependencetoLordTimothyDexter,whonotonlytaughthiscountrymenthattheyneednotgototheHeralds"

Collegetoauthenticatetheirtitlesofnobility,butalsothattheywereatperfectlibertytospelljustastheyliked,andtowritewithouttroublingthemselvesaboutstopsofanykind。InwritingwhatIsupposeheintendedforpoetry,hedidnoteventakethepainstobreakuphislinesintolengthstomakethemlooklikeverse,asmaybeseenbythefollowingspecimen:

WONDEROFWONDERS！

Howgreatthesoulis！Donotyouallwonderandadmiretoseeandbeholdandhear？Canyouallbelievehalfthetruth,andadmiretohearthewondershowgreatthesoulis——onlybehold——pastfindingout！Onlyseehowlargethesoulis！thatifamanisdrownedintheseawhatagreatbubblecomesupoutofthetopofthewater……Thebubbleisthesoul。

IconfessthatIamnotinsympathywithsomeofthemovementsthataccompanythemanifestationsofAmericansocialandliteraryindependence。IdonotliketheassumptionoftitlesofLordsandKnightsbyplaincitizensofacountrywhichpridesitselfonrecognizingsimplemanhoodandwomanhoodassufficientlyentitledtorespectwithouttheseunnecessaryadditions。Idonotlikeanybetterthefamiliar,andasitseemstomerude,wayofspeakingofourfellow—citizenswhoareentitledtothecommoncourtesiesofcivilizedsociety。IneverthoughtitdignifiedorevenproperforaPresidentoftheUnitedStatestocallhimself,ortobecalledbyothers,"Frank"Pierce。InthefirstplaceIhadtolookinabiographicaldictionarytofindoutwhetherhisbaptismalnamewasFranklin,orFrancis,orsimplyFrank,forIthinkchildrenaresometimeschristenedwiththisabbreviatedname。ButitistoomuchinthestyleofCowper"sunpleasantacquaintance:

"ThemanwhohailsyouTomorJack,AndprovesbythumpingonyourbackHowheesteemsyourmerit。"

IshouldnotliketohearourpastchiefmagistratesspokenofasJackAdamsorJimMadison,anditwouldhavebeenonlyasapoliticalpartisanthatIshouldhavereconciledmyselfto"Tom"Jefferson。

So,inspiteof"Ben"Jonson,"Tom"Moore,and"Jack"Sheppard,I

prefertospeakofafellow—citizenalreadyvenerablebyhisyears,entitledtorespectbyusefulservicestohiscountry,andrecognizedbymanyastheprophetofanewpoeticaldispensation,withthecustomarytitleofadultsratherthanbythefreeandeasyschool—boyabbreviationwithwhichheintroducedhimselfmanyyearsagotothepublic。Asforhisrhapsodies,NumberSeven,our"crackedTeacup,"

saystheysoundtohimlike"fuguesplayedonabigorganwhichhasbeenstruckbylightning。"Sofarasconcernsliteraryindependence,ifweunderstandbythattermthegettingridofoursubjectiontoBritishcriticism,suchasitwasinthedayswhenthequestionwasasked,"WhoreadsanAmericanbook？"wemayconsideritprettywellestablished。Ifitmeansdispensingwithpunctuation,coiningwordsatwill,self—revelationunrestrainedbyasenseofwhatisdecorous,declamationsinwhicheverythingisglorifiedwithoutbeingidealized,"poetry"inwhichthereadermustmaketherhythmswhichthepoethasnotmadeforhim,thenIthinkwehadbettercontinueliterarycolonists。IshrinkfromalawlessindependencetowhichallthevirileenergyandtramplingaudacityofMr。Whitmanfailtoreconcileme。Butthereisroomforeverybodyandeverythinginourhugehemisphere。YoungAmericaislikeathree—year—oldcoltwithhissaddleandbridlejusttakenoff。Thefirstthinghewantstodoistoroll。Heisadrollobject,sprawlinginthegrasswithhisfourhoofsintheair;buthelikesit,anditwon"tharmus。Solethimroll,——lethimrollOfallTheTeacupsaroundourtable,NumberFiveistheonewhoistheobjectofthegreatestinterest。Everybodywantstobeherfriend,andshehasroomenoughinherhospitablenaturetofindaplaceforeveryonewhoisworthyoftheprivilege。Thedifficultyisthatitissohardtobeherfriendwithoutbecomingherlover。I

havesaidbeforethatsheturnsthesubjectsofherCirce—likeenchantment,notintoswine,butintolambs。TheProfessorandI

moveroundamongherlambs,thedocileandamiableflockthatcomeandgoatherbidding,thatfollowherfootsteps,andarecontenttoliveinthesunshineofhersmileandwithinreachofthemusicofhervoice。Iliketogetherawayfromtheiramiablebleatings;I

lovetotalkwithheraboutlife,ofwhichshehasseenagreatdeal,forsheknowswhatitistobeanidolinsocietyandthecentreofhersocialcircle。Itmightbeaquestionwhetherwomenormenmostadmireandloveher。Withherownsexsheisalwayshelpful,sympathizing,tender,charitable,sharingtheirgriefsaswellastakingpartintheirpleasures。Withmenithasseemedtomakelittledifferencewhethertheywereyoungorold:allhavefoundherthesamesweet,generous,unaffectedcompanion;freshenoughinfeelingfortheyoungest,deepenoughinthewisdomoftheheartfortheoldest。Shedoesnotpretendtobeyouthful,nordoesshetroubleherselfthatshehasseentherosesofmoreJunesthanmanyof——theyoungerwomenwhogatherroundher。Shehasnothadtosay,CommejeregretteMonbrassidodu,forherarmhasneverlostitsroundness,andherfaceisoneofthosethatcannotbecheatedoftheircharmeveniftheylivelongenoughtolookuponthegrownupgrandchildrenoftheircoevals。

ItisawonderhowNumberFivecanfindthetimetobesomuchtosomanyfriendsofbothsexes,inspiteofthefactthatsheisoneofthemostinsatiableofreaders。Shenotonlyreads,butsheremembers;shenotonlyremembers,butsherecords,forherownuseandpleasure,andforthedelightandprofitofthosewhoareprivilegedtolookoverhernote—books。NumberFive,asIthinkI

havesaidbefore,hasnottheambitiontofigureasanauthoress。