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repulsion to guard her from all who would know her too nearly and
love her too well。 Sometimes two vessels at sea keep each other
company for a long distance； it may be daring a whole voyage。 Very
pleasant it is to each to have a companion to exchange signals with
from time to time； to came near enough； when the winds are light； to
hold converse in ordinary tones from deck to deck； to know that； in
case of need； there's help at hand。 It is good for them to be near
each other； but not good to be too near。 Woe is to them if they
touch！ The wreck of one or both is likely to be the consequence。
And so two well…equipped and heavily freighted natures may be the
best of companions to each other； and yet must never attempt to come
into closer union。 Is this the condition of affairs between Number
Five and the Tutor？ I hope not； for I want them to be joined
together in that dearest of intimacies； which； if founded in true
affinity； is the nearest approach to happiness to be looked for in
our mortal； experience。 We mast wait。 The Teacups will meet once
more before the circle is broken； and we may； perhaps； find the
solution of the question we have raised。
In the mean time； our young Doctor is playing truant oftener than
ever。 He has brought Avis；if we must call her so； and not
Delilah；several times to take tea with us。 It means something； in
these days； to graduate from one of our first…class academies or
collegiate schools。 I shall never forget my first visit to one of
these institutions。 How much its pupils know； I said； which I was
never taught； and have never learned！ I was fairly frightened to see
what a teaching apparatus was provided for them。 I should think the
first thing to be done with most of the husbands； they are likely to
get would be to put them through a course of instruction。 The young
wives must find their lords wofully ignorant； in a large proportion
of cases。 When the wife has educated the husband to such a point
that she can invite him to work out a problem in the higher
mathematics or to perform a difficult chemical analysis with her as
his collaborator； as less instructed dames ask their husbands to play
a game of checkers or backgammon； they can have delightful and
instructive evenings together。 I hope our young Doctor will take
kindly to his wife's （that is to be） teachings。
When the following verses were taken out of the urn； the Mistress
asked me to hand the manuscript to the young Doctor to read。 I
noticed that he did not keep his eyes very closely fixed on the
paper。 It seemed as if he could have recited the lines without
referring to the manuscript at all。
AT THE TURN OF THE ROAD。
The glory has passed from the goldenrod's plume；
The purple…hued asters still linger in bloom；
The birch is bright yellow； the sumachs are red；
The maples like torches aflame overhead。
But what if the joy of the summer is past；
And winter's wild herald is blowing his blast？
For me dull November is sweeter than May；
For my love is its sunshine；she meets me to…day！
Will she come？ Will the ring…dove return to her nest？
Will the needle swing back from the east or the west？
At the stroke of the hour she will be at her gate；
A friend may prove laggard；love never comes late。
Do I see her afar in the distance？ Not yet。
Too early！ Too early！ She could not forget！
When I cross the old bridge where the brook overflowed；
She will flash full in sight at the turn of the road。
I pass the low wall where the ivy entwines；
I tread the brown pathway that leads through the pines；
I haste by the boulder that lies in the field；
Where her promise at parting was lovingly sealed。
Will she come by the hillside or round through the wood？
Will she wear her brown dress or her mantle and hood？
The minute draws near；but her watch may go wrong；
My heart will be asking； What keeps her so long？
Why doubt for a moment？ More shame if I do！
Why question？ Why tremble？ Are angels more true？
She would come to the lover who calls her his own
Though she trod in the track of a whirling cyclone！
I crossed the old bridge ere the minute had passed。
I looked： lo！ my Love stood before me at last。
Her eyes； how they sparkled； her cheeks； how they glowed；
As we met； face to face； at the turn of the road！
XII
There was a great tinkling of teaspoons the other evening； when I
took my seat at the table； where ail The Teacups were gathered before
my entrance。 The whole company arose； and the Mistress； speaking for
them； expressed the usual sentiment appropriate to such occasions。
〃Many happy returns〃 is the customary formula。 No matter if the
object of this kind wish is a centenarian； it is quite safe to assume
that he is ready and very willing to accept as many more years as the
disposing powers may see fit to allow him。
The meaning of it all was that this was my birthday。 My friends；
near and distant； had seen fit to remember it； and to let me know in
various pleasant ways that they had not forgotten it。 The tables
were adorned with flowers。 Gifts of pretty and pleasing objects were
displayed on a side table。 A great green wreath； which must have
cost the parent oak a large fraction of its foliage； was an object of
special admiration。 Baskets of flowers which had half unpeopled
greenhouses； large bouquets of roses； fragrant bunches of pinks； and
many beautiful blossoms I am not botanist enough to name had been
coming in upon me all day long。 Many of these offerings were brought
by the givers in person； many came with notes as fragrant with good
wishes as the flowers they accompanied with their natural perfumes。
How old was I； The Dictator； once known by another equally audacious
title；I； the recipient of all these favors and honors？ I had
cleared the eight…barred gate； which few come in sight of； and fewer；
far fewer； go over； a year before。 I was a trespasser on the domain
belonging to another generation。 The children of my coevals were
fast getting gray and bald； and their children beginning to look upon
the world as belonging to them； and not to their sires and
grandsires。 After that leap over the tall barrier； it looks like a
kind of impropriety to keep on as if one were still of a reasonable
age。 Sometimes it seems to me almost of the nature of a misdemeanor
to be wandering about in the preserve which the fleshless gamekeeper
guards so jealously。 But； on the other hand； I remember that men of
science have maintained that the natural life of man is nearer
fivescore than threescore years and ten。 I always think of a
familiar experience which I bring from the French cafes； well known
to me in my early manhood。 One of the illustrated papers of my
Parisian days tells it pleasantly enough。
A guest of the establishment is sitting at his little table。 He has
just had his coffee； and the waiter is serving him with his peti