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wanting in interest。 We are all； of course； watching them； and
curious to know whether we are to have a romance or not。 Here is one
of them； others will show themselves presently。
I cannot say just how old the Tutor is； but I do not detect a gray
hair in his head。 My sight is not so good as it was； however； and he
may have turned the sharp corner of thirty； and even have left it a
year or two behind him。 More probably he is still in the twenties；
say twenty…eight or twenty…nine。 He seems young； at any rate；
excitable； enthusiastic； imaginative； but at the same time reserved。
I am afraid that he is a poet。 When I say 〃I am afraid；〃 you wonder
what I mean by the expression。 I may take another opportunity to
explain and justify it； I will only say now that I consider the Muse
the most dangerous of sirens to a young man who has his way to make
in the world。 Now this young man； the Tutor； has； I believe； a
future before him。 He was born for a philosopher；so I read his
horoscope；but he has a great liking for poetry and can write well
in verse。 We have had a number of poems offered for our
entertainment； which I have commonly been requested to read。 There
has been some little mystery about their authorship； but it is
evident that they are not all from the same hand。 Poetry is as
contagious as measles； and if a single case of it break out in any
social circle； or in a school； there are certain to be a number of
similar cases； some slight； some serious； and now and then one so
malignant that the subject of it should be put on a spare diet of
stationery； say from two to three penfuls of ink and a half sheet of
notepaper per diem。 If any of our poetical contributions are
presentable； the reader shall have a chance to see them。
It must be understood that our company is not invariably made up of
the same persons。 The Mistress； as we call her； is expected to be
always in her place。 I make it a rule to be present。 The Professor
is almost as sure to be at the table as I am。 We should hardly know
what to do without Number Five。 It takes a good deal of tact to
handle such a little assembly as ours； which is a republic on a small
scale； for all that they give me the title of Dictator； and Number
Five is a great help in every social emergency。 She sees when a
discussion tends to become personal； and heads off the threatening
antagonists。 She knows when a subject has been knocking about long
enough and dexterously shifts the talk to another track。 It is true
that I am the one most frequently appealed to as the highest tribunal
in doubtful cases； but I often care more for Number Five's opinion
than I do for my own。 Who is this Number Five； so fascinating； so
wise； so full of knowledge； and so ready to learn？ She is suspected
of being the anonymous author of a book which produced a sensation
when published； not very long ago； and which those who read are very
apt to read a second time； and to leave on their tables for frequent
reference。 But we have never asked her。 I do not think she wants to
be famous。 How she comes to be unmarried is a mystery to me； it must
be that she has found nobody worth caring enough for。 I wish she
would furnish us with the romance which； as I said； our tea…table
needs to make it interesting。 Perhaps the new…comer will make love
to her；I should think it possible she might fancy him。
And who is the new…comer？ He is a Counsellor and a Politician。 Has
a good war record。 Is about forty…five years old； I conjecture。 Is
engaged in a great law case just now。 Said to be very eloquent。 Has
an intellectual head； and the bearing of one who has commanded a
regiment or perhaps a brigade。 Altogether an attractive person；
scholarly； refined has some accomplishments not so common as they
might be in the class we call gentlemen； with an accent on the word。
There is also a young Doctor； waiting for his bald spot to come； so
that he may get into practice。
We have two young ladies at the table；the English girl referred to
in a former number； and an American girl of about her own age。 Both
of them are students in one of those institutionsI am not sure
whether they call it an 〃annex〃 or not； but at any rate one of those
schools where they teach the incomprehensible sort of mathematics and
other bewildering branches of knowledge above the common level of
high…school education。 They seem to be good friends； and form a very
pleasing pair when they walk in arm in arm； nearly enough alike to
seem to belong together； different enough to form an agreeable
contrast。
Of course we were bound to have a Musician at our table； and we have
one who sings admirably； and accompanies himself； or one or more of
our ladies； very frequently。
Such is our company when the table is full。 But sometimes only half
a dozen； or it may be only three or four； are present。 At other
times we have a visitor or two； either in the place of one of our
habitual number； or in addition to it。 We have the elements； we
think； of a pleasant social gathering；different sexes； ages；
pursuits； and tastes；all that is required for a 〃symphony concert〃
of conversation。 One of the curious questions which might well be
asked by those who had been with us on different occasions would be；
〃How many poets are there among you？〃 Nobody can answer this
question。 It is a point of etiquette with us not to press our
inquiries about these anonymous poems too sharply； especially if any
of them betray sentiments which would not bear rough handling。
I don't doubt that the different personalities at our table will get
mixed up in the reader's mind if be is not particularly clear…headed。
That happens very often； much oftener than all would be willing to
confess； in reading novels and plays。 I am afraid we should get a
good deal confused even in reading our Shakespeare if we did not look
back now and then at the dramatis personae。 I am sure that I am very
apt to confound the characters in a moderately interesting novel；
indeed； I suspect that the writer is often no better off than the
reader in the dreary middle of the story； when his characters have
all made their appearance； and before they have reached near enough
to the denoument to have fixed their individuality by the position
they have arrived at in the chain of the narrative。
My reader might be a little puzzled when he read that Number Five did
or said such or such a thing； and ask； 〃Whom do you mean by that
title？ I am not quite sure that I remember。〃 Just associate her with
that line of Emerson；
〃Why nature loves the number five；〃
and that will remind you that she is the favorite of our table。
You cannot forget who Number Seven is if I inform you that he
specially prides himself on being a seventh son of a seventh son。
The fact of such a descent is supposed to carry wonderful endowments
with it。 Number Seven passes for a natural healer。 He