按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at will； self…revelation unrestrained by a sense of what is decorous；
declamations in which everything is glorified without being
idealized； 〃poetry〃 in which the reader must make the rhythms which
the poet has not made for him； then I think we had better continue
literary colonists。 I shrink from a lawless independence to which
all the virile energy and trampling audacity of Mr。 Whitman fail to
reconcile me。 But there is room for everybody and everything in our
huge hemisphere。 Young America is like a three…year…old colt with
his saddle and bridle just taken off。 The first thing he wants to do
is to roll。 He is a droll object； sprawling in the grass with his
four hoofs in the air； but he likes it； and it won't harm us。 So let
him roll；let him roll
Of all The Teacups around our table； Number Five is the one who is
the object of the greatest interest。 Everybody wants to be her
friend； and she has room enough in her hospitable nature to find a
place for every one who is worthy of the privilege。 The difficulty
is that it is so hard to be her friend without becoming her lover。 I
have said before that she turns the subjects of her Circe…like
enchantment； not into swine； but into lambs。 The Professor and I
move round among her lambs； the docile and amiable flock that come
and go at her bidding； that follow her footsteps； and are content to
live in the sunshine of her smile and within reach of the music of
her voice。 I like to get her away from their amiable bleatings； I
love to talk with her about life； of which she has seen a great deal；
for she knows what it is to be an idol in society and the centre of
her social circle。 It might be a question whether women or men most
admire and love her。 With her own sex she is always helpful；
sympathizing； tender； charitable； sharing their griefs as well as
taking part in their pleasures。 With men it has seemed to make
little difference whether they were young or old： all have found her
the same sweet； generous； unaffected companion； fresh enough in
feeling for the youngest； deep enough in the wisdom of the heart for
the oldest。 She does not pretend to be youthful； nor does she
trouble herself that she has seen the roses of more Junes than many
ofthe younger women who gather round her。 She has not had to say；
Comme je regrette
Mon bras si dodu；
for her arm has never lost its roundness； and her face is one of
those that cannot be cheated of their charm even if they live long
enough to look upon the grown up grandchildren of their coevals。
It is a wonder how Number Five can find the time to be so much to so
many friends of both sexes； in spite of the fact that she is one of
the most insatiable of readers。 She not only reads； but she
remembers； she not only remembers； but she records； for her own use
and pleasure； and for the delight and profit of those who are
privileged to look over her note…books。 Number Five； as I think I
have said before； has not the ambition to figure as an authoress。
That she could write most agreeably is certain。 I have seen letters
of hers to friends which prove that clearly enough。 Whether she
would find prose or verse the most natural mode of expression I
cannot say； but I know she is passionately fond of poetry； and I
should not be surprised if； laid away among the pressed pansies and
roses of past summers； there were poems； songs； perhaps； of her own；
which she sings to herself with her fingers touching the piano； for
to that she tells her secrets in tones sweet as the ring…dove's call
to her mate。
I am afraid it may be suggested that I am drawing Number Five's
portrait too nearly after some model who is unconsciously sitting for
it； but have n't I told you that you must not look for flesh and
blood personalities behind or beneath my Teacups？ I am not going to
make these so lifelike that you will be saying； This is Mr。 or Miss；
or Mrs。 So…and…So。 My readers must remember that there are very many
pretty； sweet； amiable girls and women sitting at their pianos； and
finding chords to the music of their heart…strings。 If I have
pictured Number Five as one of her lambs might do it； I have
succeeded in what I wanted to accomplish。 Why don't I describe her
person？ If I do； some gossip or other will be sure to say； 〃Oh； he
means her； of course；〃 and find a name to match the pronoun。
It is strange to see how we are all coming to depend upon the
friendly aid of Number Five in our various perplexities。 The
Counsellor asked her opinion in one of those cases where a divorce
was too probable； but a reconciliation was possible。 It takes a
woman to sound a woman's heart； and she found there was still love
enough under the ruffled waters to warrant the hope of peace and
tranquillity。 The young Doctor went to her for counsel in the case
of a hysteric girl possessed with the idea that she was a born
poetess； and covering whole pages of foolscap with senseless
outbursts； which she wrote in paroxysms of wild excitement； and read
with a rapture of self…admiration which there was nothing in her
verses to justify or account for。 How sweetly Number Five dealt with
that poor deluded sister in her talk with the Doctor！ 〃Yes；〃 she
said to him； 〃nothing can be fuller of vanity； self…worship； and
self…deception。 But we must be very gentle with her。 I knew a young
girl tormented with aspirations； and possessed by a belief that she
was meant for a higher place than that which fate had assigned her；
who needed wholesome advice； just as this poor young thing does。 She
did not ask for it； and it was not offered。 Alas； alas！ 'no man
cared for her soul；'no man nor woman either。 She was in her early
teens； and the thought of her earthly future； as it stretched out
before her； was more than she could bear； and she sought the presence
of her Maker to ask the meaning of her abortive existence。 We will
talk it over。 I will help you take care of this child。〃
The Doctor was thankful to have her assistance in a case with which
he would have found it difficult to deal if he had been left to； his
unaided judgment； and between them the young girl was safely piloted
through the perilous straits in which she came near shipwreck。
I know that it is commonly said of her that every male friend of hers
must become her lover unless he is already lassoed by another。 Il
fait passer par l'a。 The young Doctor is； I think； safe； for I am
convinced that he is bewitched with Delilah。 Since she has left us；
he has seemed rather dejected； I feel sure that he misses her。 We
all do； but he more seriously than the rest of us。 I have said that
I cannot tell whether the Counsellor is to be counted as one of
Number Five's lambs or not； but he evidently admires her； and if he
is not fascinated； looks as if he were very near that condition。
It was a more delicate matter about which the Tutor talked with her。
Something which she had p