over the teacups-第60章
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believe that Number Five will outlive the Tutor； even if he is
fortunate enough rather in winning his way into the fortress through
gates that open to him of their own accord。 If he fails in his
siege； I do really believe he will die early； not of a broken heart；
exactly； but of a heart starved； with the food it was craving close
to it； but unattainable。 I have； therefore； a deep interest in
knowing how Number Five and the Tutor are getting along together。 Is
there any danger of one or the other growing tired of the intimacy；
and becoming willing to get rid of it； like a garment which has
shrunk and grown too tight？ Is it likely that some other attraction
may come into disturb the existing relation？ The problem is to my
mind not only interesting； but exceptionally curious。 You remember
the story of Cymon and Iphigenia as Dryden tells it。 The poor youth
has the capacity of loving； but it lies hidden in his undeveloped
nature。 All at once he comes upon the sleeping beauty； and is
awakened by her charms to a hitherto unfelt consciousness。 With the
advent of the new passion all his dormant faculties start into life；
and the seeming simpleton becomes the bright and intelligent lover。
The case of Number Five is as different from that of Cymon as it
could well be。 All her faculties are wide awake； but one emotional
side of her nature has never been called into active exercise。 Why
has she never been in love with any one of her suitors？ Because she
liked too many of them。 Do you happen to remember a poem printed
among these papers； entitled 〃I Like You and I Love You〃
No one of the poems which have been placed in the urn； that is； in
the silver sugar…bowl；has had any name attached to it； but you
could guess pretty nearly who was the author of some of them；
certainly of the one just； referred to。 Number Five was attracted to
the Tutor from the first time he spoke to her。 She dreamed about him
that night； and nothing idealizes and renders fascinating one in whom
we have already an interest like dreaming of him or of her。 Many a
calm suitor has been made passionate by a dream； many a passionate
lover has been made wild and half beside himself by a dream； and now
and then an infatuated but hapless lover； waking from a dream of
bliss to a cold reality of wretchedness； has helped himself to
eternity before he was summoned to the table。
Since Number Five had dreamed about the Tutor； he had been more in
her waking thoughts than she was willing to acknowledge。 These
thoughts were vague； it is true；emotions； perhaps； rather than
worded trains of ideas； but she was conscious of a pleasing
excitement as his name or his image floated across her consciousness；
she sometimes sighed as she looked over the last passage they had
read from the same book； and sometimes when they were together they
were silent too long；too long！ What were they thinking of？
And so it was all as plain sailing for Number Five and the young
Tutor as it had been for Delilah and the young Doctor； was it？ Do
you think so？ Then you do not understand Number Five。 Many a woman
has as many atmospheric rings about her as the planet Saturn。 Three
are easily to be recognized。 First； there is the wide ring of
attraction which draws into itself all that once cross its outer
border。 These revolve about her without ever coming any nearer。
Next is the inner ring of attraction。 Those who come within its
irresistible influence are drawn so close that it seems as if they
must become one with her sooner or later。 But within this ring is
another；an atmospheric girdle； one of repulsion； which love； no
matter how enterprising； no matter how prevailing or how insinuating；
has never passed； and； if we judge of what is to be by what has been；
never will。 Perhaps Nature loved Number Five so well that she
grudged her to any mortal man； and gave her this inner girdle of
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？
S
