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！
It was a more delicate matter about which the Tutor talked with her。
Something which she had pleasantly said to him about the two Annexes
led him to ask her； more or less seriously； it may be remembered；
about the fitness of either of them to be the wife of a young man in
his position。 She talked so sensibly； as it seemed to him； about it
that he continued the conversation； and； shy as he was； became quite
easy and confidential in her company。 The Tutor is not only a poet；
but is a great reader of the poetry of many languages。 It so
happened that Number Five was puzzled； one day； in reading a sonnet
of Petrarch； and had recourse to the Tutor to explain the difficult
passage。 She found him so thoroughly instructed； so clear； so much
interested； so ready to impart knowledge； and so happy in his way of
doing it； that she asked him if he would not allow her the privilege
of reading an Italian author under his guidance； now and then。
The Tutor found Number Five an apt scholar； and something more than
that； for while； as a linguist； he was； of course； her master； her
intelligent comments brought out the beauties of an author in a way
to make the text seem like a different version。 They did not always
confine themselves to the book they were reading。 Number Five showed
some curiosity about the Tutor's relations with the two Annexes。 She
suggested whether it would not be well to ask one or both of them in
to take part in their readings。 The Tutor blushed and hesitated。
〃Perhaps you would like to ask one of them；〃 said Number Five。
〃Which one shall it be？〃 〃It makes no difference to me which；〃 he
answered；〃 but I do not see that we need either。〃 Number Five did
not press the matter further。 So the young Tutor and Number Five
read together pretty regularly； and came to depend upon their meeting
over a book as one of their stated seasons of enjoyment。 He is so
many years younger than she is that I do not suppose he will have to
pass par la； as most of her male friends have done。 I tell her
sometimes that she reminds me of my Alma Mater； always young； always
fresh in her attractions； with her scholars all round her； many of
them graduates； or to graduate sooner or later。
What do I mean by graduates？ Why； that they have made love to her；
and would be entitled to her diploma； if she gave a parchment to each
one of them who had had the courage to face the inevitable。 About
the Counsellor I am； as I have said； in doubt。 Who wrote that
〃I Like You and I Love You；〃 which we found in the sugar…bowl the
other day？ Was it a graduate who had felt the 〃icy dagger；〃 or only
a candidate for graduation who was afraid of it？ So completely does
she subjugate those who come under her influence that I believe she
looks upon it as a matter of course that the fateful question will
certainly come； often after a brief acquaintance。 She confessed as
much to me； who am in her confidence； and not a candidate for
graduation from her academy。 Her graduatesher lambs I called them
are commonly faithful to her； and though now and then one may have
gone off and sulked in solitude； most of them feel kindly to her； and
to those who have shared the common fate of her suitors。 I do really
believe that some of them would be glad to see her captured by any
one； if such there can be； who is worthy of her。 She is the best of
friends； they say； but can she love anybody； as so many other women
do； or seem to？ Why shouldn't our Musician； who is evidently fond of
her company； and sings and plays duets with her； steal her heart as
Piozzi stole that of the pretty and bright Mrs。 Thrale； as so many
music…teachers have run away with their pupils' hearts？ At present
she seems to be getting along very placidly and contentedly with her
young friend the Tutor。 There is something quite charming in their
relations with each other。 He knows many things she does not； for he
is reckoned one of the most learned in his literary specialty of all
the young men of his time； and it can be a question of only a few
years when some first…class professorship will be offered him。 She；
on the other hand； has so much more experience； so much more
practical wisdom； than he has that he consults her on many every…day
questions； as he did； or made believe do； about that of making love
to one of the two Annexes。 I had thought； when we first sat round
the tea…table； that she was good for the bit of romance I wanted； but
since she has undertaken to be a kind of half…maternal friend to the
young Tutor； I am afraid I shall have to give her up as the heroine
of a romantic episode。 It would be a pity if there were nothing to
commend these papers to those who take up this periodical but essays；
more or less significant； on subjects more or less interesting to the
jaded and impatient readers of the numberless stories and
entertaining articles which crowd the magazines of this prolific
period。 A whole year of a tea…table as large as ours without a
single love passage in it would be discreditable to the company。 We
must find one； or make one； before the tea…things are taken away and
the table is no longer spread。
The Dictator turns preacher。
We have so many light and playful talks over the teacups that some
readers may be surprised to find us taking up the most serious and
solemn subject which can occupy a human intelligence。 The sudden
appearance among our New England Protestants of the doctrine of
purgatory as a possibility； or even probability； has startled the
descendants of the Puritans。 It has naturally led to a
reconsideration of the doctrine of eternal punishment。 It is on that
subject that Number Five and I have talked together。 I love to
listen to her； for she talks from the promptings of a true woman's
heart。 I love to talk to her； for I learn my own thoughts better in
that way than in any other 〃L'appetit vient en mangeant；〃 the French
saying has it。 〃L'esprit vient en causant；〃 that is； if one can find
the right persons to talk with。
The subject which has specially interested Number Five and myself； of
late； was suggested to me in the following way。
Some two years ago I received a letter from a clergyman who bears by
inheritance one of the most distinguished names which has done honor
to the American 〃Orthodox〃 pulpit。 This letter requested of me 〃a
contribution to a proposed work which was to present in their own
language the views of 'many men of many minds' on the subject of
future punishment。 It was in my mind to let the public hear not only
from professional theologians； but from other professions； as from
jurists on the alleged but disputed value of the hangman's whip
overhanging the witness…box； and from physicians on the working of
beliefs about the future life in the minds of the dangerously sick。
And I could not help thinking what a good thing it would be to draw
out the present writer upon his favorite