第6章

INJULY

OnehastheleisureofJulyforperceivingallthedifferencesofthegreenofleaves。Itisnolongeradifferenceindegreesofmaturity，forallthetreeshavedarkenedtotheirfinaltone，andstandintheirdifferencesofcharacterandnotofmeredate。

Almostallthegreenisgrave，notsadandnotdull。Ithasadarkenedandadailycolour，inmajesticbutnotobviousharmonywithdarkgreyskies，andmightlook，toinconstanteyes，asprosaicafterspringaseleveno’clocklooksafterthedawn。

Gravityistheword——notsolemnityastowardsevening，normenaceasatnight。ThedaylighttreesofJulyaresignsofcommonbeauty，commonfreshness，andamysteryfamiliarandabidingasnightandday。Inchildhoodweallhaveamoreexaltedsenseofdawnandsummersunrisethanweeverfullyretainorquiterecover；andalsoafarhighersensibilityforAprilandAprilevenings——aheartacheforthem，whichinriperyearsisgraduallyandirretrievablyconsoled。

But，ontheotherhand，childhoodhassoquicklylearnedtofinddailythingstedious，andfamiliarthingsimportunate，thatithasnogreatdelightinthemeremiddleoftheday，andfeelswearinessofthesummerthathasceasedtochangevisibly。Thepoetryofmeredayandoflatesummerbecomesperceptibletomatureeyesthathavelongceasedtobesated，havetakenleaveofweariness，andcannotnowfindanythinginnaturetoofamiliar；eyeswhichhave，indeed，lostsightofthefurtheraweofmidsummerdaybreak，andnolongerseesomuchofthepastinApriltwilightastheysawwhentheyhadnopast；butwhichlookfreshlyatthedailinessofgreensummer，ofearlyafternoon，ofeveryskyofanyformthatcomestopass，andofthedarkenedelms。

Notunbelovedisthisserioustree，theelm，withitsleafsittingclose，unthrilled。Itsstaturegivesitadarkgoldheadwhenitlooksalonetoalatesun。Butifonecouldgobyallthewoods，acrossalltheoldforeststhatarenowmeadowlandssetwithtrees，andcouldwalkacountygatheringtreesofasinglekindinthemind，asonewalksagardencollectingflowersofasinglekindinthehand，wouldnottheharvestbeaharvestofpoplars？A

veritablepassionforpoplarsisamostintelligiblepassion。Theeyesdogatherthem，farandnear，onawholeday’sjourney。Notoneisunperceived，eventhoughgreattimbershouldbepassed，andhill-sidesdenseanddeepwithtrees。Thefancymakesapoplardayofit。Immediatelythecountrylooksalivewithsignals；forthepoplarseverywherereplytotheglance。Thewoodsmaybeallvarious，butthepoplarsareseparate。

Alltheirmanykinds（andaspens，theirkin，mustbecountedwiththem）shakethemselvesperpetuallyfreeofthemotionlessforest。

Itiseasytogatherthem。Glancessentintothefardistancepaythemaflashofrecognitionoftheirgentleflashes；andasyoujourneyyouaresuddenlyawareofthemcloseby。Lightandthebreezesareasquickastheeyesofapoplar-lovertofindthewillingtreethatdancestobeseen。

Nolurkingforthem，noreluctance。Onecouldnevermakeforoneselfanoakdaysowell。Theoakswouldwaittobefound，andmanywouldbemissedfromthegathering。Butthepoplarsarealertenoughforatravellerbyexpress；theyhaveanalarumaloft，anddonotsleep。Fromwithinsomelittlegroveofothertreesasinglepoplarmakesaslightsign；oralongrowofpoplarssuddenlysweepthewind。Theyaresalienteverywhere，andfullofreplies。Theyareasfreshasstreams。

Itisdifficulttorealizeadroughtwheretherearemanypoplars。

Andyettheirgreenisnotrich；thecoolesthaveacolourmuchmingledwithacloud-grey。Itdoesbutneedfreshandsimpleeyestorecognizetheirunfadedlife。Whentheothertreesgrowdarkandkeepstill，thepoplarandtheaspendonotdarken——orhardly——andthedeepestsummerwillnotfindadayinwhichtheydonotkeepawake。Nowatersaresovigilant，evenwherealakeisbaretothewind。

WhenKeatssaidofhisDianthatshefastenedupherhair"withfingerscoolasaspenleaves，"heknewthecoolestthingintheworld。Itisacoolnessofcolour，aswellasofaleafwhichthebreezetakesonbothsides——thegreenishandthegreyish。Thepoplargreenhasnoglows，nogold；itisanausterecolour，aslittlerichasthecolourofwillows，andlesssilverythantheirs。

Thesuncanhardlygildit；buthecanshinebetween。Poplarsandaspensletthesunthroughwiththewind。Youmayhavetheskysprinkledthroughtheminhighmidsummer，whenallthewoodsareclose。

Sendingyourfancypoplar-gathering，then，youensnarewildtrees，beatingwithlife。Nofisher’snetevertooksuchglancingfishes，nordidthenetofaconstellation’sshapeeverenclosemorevibratingPleiades。

CLOUD

DuringapartoftheyearLondondoesnotseetheclouds。Nottoseetheclearskymightseemherchiefloss，butthatissharedbytherestofEngland，andis，besides，butaslightprivation。Nottoseetheclearskyis，elsewhere，toseethecloud。ButnotsoinLondon。Youmaygoforaweekortwoatatime，eventhoughyouholdyourheadupasyouwalk，andeventhoughyouhavewindowsthatreallyopen，andyetyoushallseenocloud，orbutasingleedge，thefragmentofaform。

Guillotinewindowsneverwhollyopen，butarefilledwithadoubledglasstowardstheskywhenyouopenthemtowardsthestreet。Theyare，therefore，asuresignthatforalltheyearswhennootherwindowswereusedinLondon，nobodytherecaredmuchforthesky，orevenknewsomuchaswhethertherewereasky。

Buttheprivationofcloudisindeedagraverlossthantheworldknows。Terrestrialsceneryismuch，butitisnotall。Mengoinsearchofit；butthecelestialsceneryjourneystothem。Itgoesitswayroundtheworld。Ithasnonation，itcostsnoweariness，itknowsnobonds。Theterrestrialscenery——thetourist’s——isaprisonercomparedwiththis。Thetourist’sscenerymovesindeed，butonlylikeWordsworth’smaiden，withearth’sdiurnalcourse；itismadeasfastasitsowngraves。Andforitschangesitdependsuponthemobilityoftheskies。Themeregreenflushingofitsownsapmakesonlytheleastofitsvarieties；forthegreateritmustwaituponthevisitsofthelight。Springandautumnareinconsiderableeventsinalandscapecomparedwiththeshadowsofacloud。

Thecloudcontrolsthelight，andthemountainsonearthappearorfadeaccordingtoitspassage；theywearsosimply，fromheadtofoot，theluminousgreyortheemphaticpurple，asthecloudpermits，thattheirownlocalcolourandtheirownlocalseasonarelostandcease，effacedbeforetheall-importantmoodofthecloud。

Theseahasnomoodexceptthatoftheskyandofitswinds。Itisthecloudthat，holdingthesun’sraysinasheafasagiantholdsahandfulofspears，strikesthehorizon，touchestheextremeedgewithadelicaterevelationoflight，orsuddenlyputsitoutandmakestheforegroundshine。

Everyoneknowsthemanifestworkofthecloudwhenitdescendsandpartakesinthelandscapeobviously，lieshalf-wayacrossthemountainslope，stoopstorainheavilyuponthelake，andblotsoutpartoftheviewbytheroughmethodofstandinginfrontofit。

Butitsgreatestthingsaredonefromitsownplace，aloft。Thencedoesitdistributethesun。

Thencedoesitlockawaybetweenthehillsandvalleysmoremysteriesthanapoetconceals，but，likehim，notbyinterception。

ThenceitwritesoutandcancelsallthetraceryofMonteRosa，orletsthepencilsofthesunrenewthem。Thence，hidingnothing，andyetmakingdark，itshedsdeepcolourupontheforestlandofSussex，sothat，seenfromthehills，allthecountryisdividedbetweengraveblueandgraversunlight。

Andallthisisbutitsinfluence，itssecondaryworkupontheworld。Itsownbeautyisunalteredwhenithasnoearthlybeautytoimprove。Itisalwaysgreat：abovethestreet，abovethesuburbs，abovethegas-worksandthestucco，abovethefacesofpaintedwhitehouses——thepaintedsurfacesthathavebeendevisedastheonlythingsabletovulgariselight，astheycatchitandreflectitgrotesquelyfromtheirimportunategloss。ThisistobewellseenonasunnyeveninginRegentStreet。

Evenherethecloudisnotsovictoriousaswhenittowersabovesomelittlelandscapeofratherpaltryinterest——aconventionalriverheavywithwater，gardenswiththeirlittleevergreens，walks，andshrubberies；andthicktreesimpervioustothelight，touched，asthenovelistsalwayshaveit，with"autumntints。"Highovertheserises，intheenormousscaleofthesceneryofclouds，whatnomanexpected——anheroicsky。Fewofthethingsthatwereeverdoneuponeartharegreatenoughtobedoneundersuchaheaven。Itwassurelydesignedforotherdays。Itisforanepicworld。Youreyessweepathousandmilesofcloud。Whatarethedistancesofearthtothese，andwhatarethedistancesoftheclearandcloudlesssky？

Theveryhorizonsofthelandscapearenear，fortheroundworlddipssosoon；andthedistancesofthemereclearskyareunmeasured——yourestuponnothinguntilyoucometoastar，andthestaritselfisimmeasurable。

Butintheskyof"sunnyAlps"ofcloudsthesightgoesfarther，withconsciousflight，thanitcouldeverhavejourneyedotherwise。

Manwouldnothaveknowndistanceveritablywithouttheclouds。

Therearemountainsindeed，precipicesanddeeps，towhichthoseoftheeartharepigmy。Yetthesky-heights，beingsofaroff，arenotoverpoweringbydisproportion，likesomefutilebuildingfatuouslymadetoobigforthehumanmeasure。ThecloudinitsmajesticplacecomposeswithalittlePeruginotree。Foryoustandorstrayinthefutilebuilding，whilethecloudisnomansionforman，andoutofreachofhislimitations。

Thecloud，moreover，controlsthesun，notmerelybykeepingthecustodyofhisrays，butbybecomingthecounsellorofhistemper。

Thecloudveilsanangrysun，or，moreterribly，letsflyanangryray，suddenlybrightupontreeandtower，withiron-greystormforabackground。Orwhenangerhadbutthreatened，thecloudrevealshim，gentlebeyondhope。Itmakespeace，constantly，justbeforesunset。

Itisintheconfidenceofthewinds，andwearstheircolours。

Thereisaheavenlygame，onsouth-westwinddays，whenthecloudsarebowledbyabreezefrombehindtheevening。Theyareroundandbrilliant，andcomeleapingupfromthehorizonforhours。Thisisafrolicandhaphazardsky。

Allunlikethisistheskythathasacentre，andstandscomposedaboutit。Asthecloudsmarshalledtheearthlymountains，sothecloudsinturnarenowranged。ThetopsofallthecelestialAndesaloftaresweptatoncebyasingleray，warmedwithasinglecolour。Promontoryafterleague-longpromontoryofastillerMediterraneanintheskyiscalledoutofmistandgreybythesamefinger。Thecloudlandisverygreat，butasunbeammakesallitsnationsandcontinentssuddenwithlight。

Allthisisfortheuntravelled。Allthewindsbringhimthisscenery。ItisonlyinLondon，forpartoftheautumnandpartofthewinter，thattheunnaturalsmoke-fogcomesbetween。AndformanyandmanyadaynoLondoneyecanseethehorizon，orthefirstthreatofthecloudlikeaman’shand。Thereneverwasagreatpainterwhohadnotexquisitehorizons，andifCorotandCromewereright，theLondonerlosesagreatthing。

Helosesthecomingofthecloud，andwhenitishighinairhelosesitsshape。Acloud-loverisnotcontenttoseeasnowyandrosyheadpilingintothetopoftheheavens；hewantstoseethebaseandthealtitude。Theperspectiveofacloudisagreatpartofitsdesign——whetheritliessothatyoucanlookalongtheimmensehorizontaldistancesofitsfloor，orwhetheritrearssouprightapillarthatyoulookupitsmountainsteepsintheskyasyoulookattherisingheightsofamountainthatstands，withyou，ontheearth。

Thecloudhasanamesuggestingdarkness；nevertheless，itisnotmerelytheguardianofthesun’sraysandtheirdirector。Itisthesun’streasurer；itholdsthelightthattheworldhaslost。Wetalkofsunshineandmoonshine，butnotofcloud-shine，whichisyetoneoftheilluminationsofourskies。Ashiningcloudisoneofthemostmajesticofallsecondarylights。Ifthereflectingmoonisthebride，thisisthefriendofthebridegroom。

Needlesstosay，thecloudofathunderoussummeristhemostbeautifulofall。Ithasspacesofagreyforwhichthereisnoname，andnoothercloudlooksoveratavanishingsunfromsuchheightsofblueair。Theshower-cloud，too，withitsthinedges，comesacrosstheskywithsoinfluentialaflightthatnoshipgoingouttoseacanbebetterworthwatching。ThedullestthingperhapsintheLondonstreetsisthatpeopletaketheirraintherewithoutknowinganythingofthecloudthatdropsit。Itismerelyrain，andmeanswetness。Theshower-cloudtherehaslimitsoftime，butnolimitsofform，andnohistorywhatever。Ithasnotcomefromtheclearedgeoftheplaintothesouth，andwillnotshoulderanonthehilltothenorth。Therain，forthiscity，hardlycomesorgoes；

itdoesbutbeginandstop。Noonelooksafteritonthepathofitsretreat。

SHADOWS

Anothergoodreasonthatweoughttoleaveblank，unvexed，andunencumberedwithpaperpatternstheceilingandwallsofasimplehouseisthattheplainsurfacemaybevisitedbytheuniquedesignsofshadows。Theopportunityissofineathingthatitoughtoftenertobeofferedtothelightandtoyonderhandfuloflongsedgesandrushesinavase。Theirslendergreydesignofshadowsuponwhitewallsisbetterthanatedious，trivial，oranxiousdevicefromtheshop。

Theshadowhasallintricaciesofperspectivesimplytranslatedintolineandintersectingcurve，andpictoriallypresentedtotheeyes，nottothemind。Theshadowknowsnothingexceptitsflatdesigns。

Itissingle；itdrawsadecorationthatwasneverseenbefore，andwillneverbeseenagain，andthat，untouched，varieswiththejourneyofthesun，shiftstheinterrelationofascoreofdelicatelinesatthemerepassingoftime，thoughalltheroombemotionless。Whywilldesigninsistuponitsimportunateimmortality？Wiseristhedrama，andwiserthedance，thatdonotpauseuponanattitude。Butthesewalkwithpassionorpleasure，whiletheshadowwalkswiththeearth。Italtersasthehourswheel。

Moreover，whilethehabitofyoursunwardthoughtsisstillflowingsouthward，afterthewinterandthespring，itsurprisesyouinthesuddengleamofanorth-westeringsun。Itdecksanewwall；itisshedbyalatesunsetthroughawindowunvisitedforayearpast；itbetraystheflittingofthesunintounwontedskies——asunthattakesthemidsummerworldintherear，andshowshisheadatasally-porte，andisabouttoalightonanunusedhorizon。Sodoesthegreydrawing，withwhichyouhaveallowedthesunandyourpotofrushestoadornyourroom，playthestealthygameoftheyear。

Youneednotstintyourselfofshadows，foranoccasion。ItneedsbutfourcandlestomakeahangingOrientalbellplaythemostbuoyantjuggleryoverhead。Twolampsmakeofonepalm-branchasymmetricalcounterchargeofshadows，andheretwopalm-branchesclosewithoneanotherinshadow，theirarchesflowingtogether，andtheirpalergreysdarkening。Itishardtobelievethattherearemanytoprefera"repeatingpattern。"

Itmustbegrantedtothemthatagreydayrobsoftheirdecorationthewallsthatshouldbesprinkledwithshadows。Let，then，aplaqueorapicturebekeptforhangingonshadowlessclays。Todressaroomonceforall，andtogiveitnomoreheed，istoneglecttheunitsofthedays。

Shadowswithindoorsareyetonlymessagesfromthatworldofshadowswhichisthelandscapeofsunshine。FacingaMaysunyouseelittleexceptaninfinitenumberofshadows。Atomsofshadow——

bethedaybrightenough——composetheveryairthroughwhichyouseethelight。Thetreesshowyouashadowforeveryleaf，andthepoplarsaresprinkledupontheshiningskywithlittleshadowsthatlooktranslucent。Thelivelinessofeveryshadowisthatsomelightisreflectedintoit；shadeandshinehavebeenentangledasthoughbysomewildwindthroughtheirmillionmolecules。

Thecoolnessandthedarkofnightareinterlockedwiththeuncloudedsun。Turnsunwardfromthenorth，andshadowscometolife，andarethemselvesthelife，theaction，andthetransparenceoftheirday。

Toeyestiredandretiredalldaywithinloweredblinds，thelightlooksstillandchangeless。Somanysquaresofsunshineabideforsomanyhours，andwhenthesunhascircledawaytheypassandareextinguished。Himwholiesalonetheretheouterworldtoucheslessbythislongsunshinethanbythehasteandpassageofashadow。

Althoughtheremaybenotreetostandbetweenhiswindowandthesouth，andalthoughnonoondaywindmayblowabranchofrosesacrosstheblind，shadowsandtheirlifewillbecarriedacrossbyabrilliantbird。

Tothesickmanacloud-shadowisnothingbutaneclipse；hecannotseeitsshape，itscolor，itsapproach，oritsflight。Itdoesbutdarkenhiswindowasitdarkenstheday，andisgoneagain；hedoesnotseeitpluckandsnatchthesun。Buttheflyingbirdshowshimwings。Whatflashoflightcouldbemorebrightforhimthansuchaflashofdarkness？

Itisthepulseoflife，whereallchangehadseemedtobecharmed。

Ifhehadseenthebirditselfhewouldhaveseenless——thebird’sshadowwasamessagefromthesun。

Therearetwoseparatedflightsforthefancytofollow，theflightofthebirdintheair，andtheflightofitsshadowonearth。Thisgoesacrossthewindowblind，acrossthewood，whereitisastrayforawhileintheshades；itdipsintothevalley，growingvaguerandlarger，runs，quickerthanthewind，uphill，smalleranddarkeronthesoftanddrygrass，andrushestomeetitsbirdwhenthebirdswoopstoabranchandclings。

Inthegreatbirdcountryofthenorth-easternlittoralofEngland，aboutHolyIslandandthebasalticrocks，theshadowsofthehighbirdsarethemovementandthepulseofthesolitude。Wheretherearenowoodstomakeashade，thesunsuffersthebrillianteclipseofflocksofpearl-whiteseabirds，orofthesolitarycreaturedrivingonthewind。Theirsisalwaysasurpriseofflight。Thecloudsgooneway，butthebirdsgoallways：infromtheseaorout，acrossthesands，inlandtohighnorthernfields，wherethecropsarelatebyamonth。Theyflysohighthatthoughtheyhavetheshadowofthesunundertheirwings，theyhavethelightoftheearththerealso。Thewavesandthecoastshineuptothem，andtheyflybetweenlights。

Blackflocksandwhitetheygathertheirdelicateshadowsup，"swiftasdreams，"attheendoftheirflightintotheclefts，platforms，andledgesofharbourlessrocksdominatingtheNorthSea。Theysubsidebydegrees，withlesseningandshorteningvolleysofwingsandcriesuntiltherecomesthegeneralshadowofnightwherewiththelittleshadowsclose，complete。

Theeveningistheshadowofanotherflight。Allthebirdshavetracedwildandinnumerablepathsacrossthemid-Mayearth；theirshadowshavefledalldayfasterthanherstreams，andhaveovertakenallthemovementofherwinglesscreatures。Butnowitistheflightoftheveryearththatcarriesherclaspedshadowfromthesun。

THESEVENTEENTHCENTURY

AllEnglishmenknowthenameofLucyHutchinson；andofhercallingandelectiontothemostwifelyofallwifehoods——thatofasoldier’swife——historyhasmadehercountrymenaware。InasmuchasColonelHutchinsonwasapoliticalsoldier，moreover，sheissomethingmorethanhisbiographer——hishistorian。AndsheconvincesherreaderthatherPuritanprincipleskeptabreastofheraffections。Thereisnoself-abandonment；sheisnotprecipitate；

keepsherownfooting；wifeofasoldierassheis，wouldnothavearmedhimwithoutherownpreviousindignationagainsttheenemy。

Sheisasoldierathisorders，butshehadwarilyandfreelychosenhercaptain。

Briefly，andwiththedignitythatthelanguageofherdaykeptunmarredforheruse，sherelatesherownchildhoodandyouth。Shewasachildsuchasthoseserioustimesdesiredthatachildshouldbe；thatis，shewasasslightlyachild，andforasbriefatime，asmightbe。Childhood，asanageofprogress，wasnottobedelayed，asanageofimperfectionwastobeimproved，asanageofinabilitywasnottobeexposedexceptwhenprecocitydistinguishedit。Itmustatanyratebeshortened。LucyApsley，atfouryearsold，readEnglishperfectly，andwas"carriedtosermons，andcouldrememberandrepeatthemexactly。""Atsevenshehadeighttutorsinseveralqualities。"SheoutstrippedherbrothersinLatin，albeittheywereatschoolandshehadnoteacherexceptherfather’schaplain，who，poorgentleman，was"apitifuldullfellow。"

Shewasnotcompanionable。Hermanyfriendswereindulgedwith"babies"（thatis，dolls）andtheseshepulledtopieces。Sheexhortedthemaids，sheowned，"much。"Butshealsoheardmuchoftheirlovestories，andacquiredatasteforsonnets。

Itwasasonnet，andindeedoneofherownwriting，thatbroughtaboutheracquaintancewithMr。Hutchinson。Thesonnetwasreadtohim，anddiscussedamongsthisfriends，withguessesattheauthorship；forayoungwomandidnot，inthatworld，writeasonnetwithoutafeintofhidingitsorigin。Onegentlemanbelievedawomanhadmadeit。Anothersaid，ifso，therewerebuttwowomencapableofmakingit；butheowned，later，thathesaid"two"outofcivility（verygoodcivilityofakindthatisnotnowpractised）toaladywhochancedtobepresent；butthatheknewwelltherewasbutone；andhenamedher。FromherfuturehusbandLucyApsleyreceivedthatpraiseofexceptionswherewithwomenarenow，andalwayswillbe，praised："Mr。Hutchinson，shesays，"fancyingsomethingofrationalityinthesonnetbeyondthecustomaryreachofashe-wit，couldscarcelybelieveitwasawoman’s。"

Hesoughtheracquaintance，andtheyweremarried。Hertreasuredconsciencedidnotpreventherfromnotingthejealousyofheryoungfriends。Agenerousmind，perhaps，wouldratheritselfsufferjealousythanbequickinsuspecting，orcomplacentincausing，orpreciseinsettingitdown。ButMrs。HutchinsondoubtlessoffereduptheenvyofhercompanionsinhomagetoherPuritanlover’ssplendour。Hisausteritydidnothinderhimfromwearinghis"fine，thick-setheadofhair"inlonglocksthatwereanoffencetomanyofhisownsect，but，shesays，"agreatornamenttohim。"Butforherselfshehassomedissimulatedvanities。Shewasnegligentofdress，andwhen，aftermuchwaitingandmanydevices，hersuitorfirstsawher，shewas"notuglyinacarelessriding-habit。"Asforhim，"inspiteofallherindifference，shewassurprised（shewrites）withsomeunusuallikinginhersoulwhenshesawthisgentleman，whohadhair，eyes，shape，andcountenanceenoughtobegetloveinanyone。"Hemarriedherassoonasshecouldleaveherchamber，whenshewassodeformedbysmall-poxthat"thepriestandallthatsawherwereaffrightedtolookather；butGodrecompensedhisjusticeandconstancybyrestoringher。"

ThefollowingaresomeoftheadmirablesentencesthatproveLucyHutchinsonawomanoflettersinafarmoreserioussensethanourowntimeuses。OnephrasehasaStevenson-likecharacter，akindofgestureoflanguage；thisiswhereshepraisesherhusband’s"handsomemanagementoflove。"{1}Shethusprefacesherdescriptionofherhonouredlord："IfmytreacherousmemoryhavenotlostthedearesttreasurethateverIcommittedtoitstrust。"Sheboastsofhercountryinloftyphrase："Godhath，asitwere，enclosedapeoplehere，outofthewastecommonoftheworld。"Andagainofherhusband："Itwillbeashardtosaywhichwasthepredominantvirtueinhimaswhichissoinitsownnature。""Hehadmadeuphisaccountswithlifeanddeath，andfixedhispurposetoentertainbothhonourably。""Theheatofhisyouthalittleinclinedhimtothepassionofanger，andthegoodnessofhisnaturetothoseofloveandgrief；butreasonwasneverdethronedbythem，butcontinuedgovernorandmoderatorofhissoul。"

Shedescribessweetlycertainthreedamselswhohad"conceivedakindness"forherlord，theirsusceptibility，theirwillingness，their"admirabletemptingbeauty，"and"suchexcellentgood-natureaswouldhavethawedarockofice"；butsheaddsnolessbeautifully，"Itwasnothistimetolove。"Inherwidowhoodsherememberedthatshehadbeencommanded"nottogrieveatthecommonrateofwomen"；andthisisthelovelyphraseofhergrief："Ashisshadow，shewaitedonhimeverywhere，tillhewastakentothatregionoflightwhichadmitsofnone，andthenshevanishedintonothing。"

Shehasaninvincibleangeragainsttheenemiesofherhusbandandofthecause。Thefevers，"littlelessthanplagues，"thatwerecommoninthatagecarrythemoffexemplarilybyfamiliesatatime。

Anadversaryis"thedevil’sexquisitesolicitor。"AllRoyalistsareof"thewickedfaction。"ShesuspectedhiswardersofpoisoningColonelHutchinsonintheprisonwhereinhedied。Thekeeperhadgivenhim，underpretenceofkindness，abottleofexcellentwine，andthetwogentlemenwhodrankofitdiedwithinfourmonths。A

poisonofstrangeoperation！"Wemustleaveittothegreatday，whenallcrimes，howsecretsoever，willbemademanifest，whethertheyaddedpoisontoalltheirotheriniquity，wherebytheycertainlymurderedthisguiltlessservantofGod。"Whenhewasneardeath，sheadds，"agentlewomanoftheCastlecameupandaskedhimhowhedid。Hetoldher，Incomparablywell，andfulloffaith。"

Onthesubjectofpolitics，Mrs。Hutchinsonwrites，itmustbeowned，platitudes；butallaresimple，andsomearestatedwithdignity。Herpower，herintegrity，hertenderness，herpomp，theliberalandpublicinterestsofherlife，hergoodbreeding，hereducation，herexquisitediction，aresuchasmaywellmakeareaderaskhowandwhytheliteratureofEnglanddeclineduponthevulgarity，ignorance，cowardice，foolishness，thatbecame"feminine"

intheestimationofalaterage；thatis，inthecharacterofwomensucceedingher，andintheestimationofmensucceedingherlord。

ThenoblegracesofLucyHutchinson，Isay，maywellmakeusmarvelatthedownfallfollowing——atGoldsmith’sinventionofthewomenof"TheVicarorWakefield"inoneage，andatThackeray’sinventionofthewomenof"Esmond"inanother。

Mrs。Hutchinsonhaslittleleisureformuchpraiseofthenaturalbeautyofskyandlandscape，butnowandtheninherworkthereappearsanabidingsenseofthepleasantnessoftheruralworld——inherdayanimplicitfeelingratherthananexplicit。"Thehappinessofthesoilandaircontributeallthingsthatarenecessarytotheuseordelightofman’slife。""Hehadanopportunityofconversingwithherinthosepleasantwalkswhich，atthesweetseasonofthespring，invitedalltheneighbouringinhabitantstoseektheirjoys。"AndshedescribesadreamwhereofthescenewasinthegreenfieldsofSouthwark。WhatanEnglandwashers！AndwhatanEnglish！Amemorablevintageofourliteratureandspeechwasgrantedinherday；weowemuchtothosewho——asshedid——gathereditin。

MRS。DINGLEY

WecannotdoherhonourbyherChristianname。{2}AllwehavetocallherbymoretenderlyisthemereD，theDthattieshertoStella，withwhomshemadethetwo-in-onewhomSwiftloved"betterathousandtimesthanlife，ashopesaved。"MD，withoutfullstops，Swiftwritesiteighttimesinalineforthepleasureofwritingit。"MDsometimesmeansStellaalone，"saysoneofmanyeditors。

"TheletterswerewrittennominallytoStellaandMrs。Dingley，"

saysanother，"butitdoesnotrequiretobesaidthatitwasreallyforStella’ssakealonethattheywerepenned。"Notso。"MD"neverstandsforStellaalone。Andtheeditordoesnotyetlivewhoshallpersuadeonehonestreader，againstthewordofSwift，thatSwiftlovedStellaonly，withanordinarylove，andnot，byamostdelicateexception，StellaandDingley，sojoinedthattheymakethe"she"and"her"ofeveryletter。AndthisshallbeapaperofreparationtoMrs。Dingley。

Nooneelseinliteraryhistoryhasbeensodefraudedofherhonours。Inlove"todivideisnottotakeaway，"asShelleysays；

andDingley’shalfofthetenderthingssaidtoMDisequaltoanywhole，andtakesnothingfromthewholeofStella’shalf。ButthesentimentalisthasfoughtagainstMrs。Dingleyfromtheoutset。Hehasdislikedher，shirkedher，misconceivedher，andeffacedher。

Slysentimentalist——hefindsherirksome。Throughoneofhismostmodernrepresentativeshehasbutlatelycalledhera"chaperon。"A

chaperon！

MDwasnotasentimentalist。Stellawasnotso，thoughshehasbeenpressedintothatcharacter；Dcertainlywasnot，andhasinthisrespectbeensparedbythechronicler；andMDtogetherwere"saucycharmingMD，""saucylittle，pretty，dearrogues，""littlemonkeysmine，""littlemischievousgirls，""nautinautinautideargirls，"

"brats，""huzziesboth，""impudenceandsaucy-face，""saucynoses，"

"mydearestlivesanddelights，""dearlittleyoungwomen，""gooddallars，notcryingdallars"（whichmeans"girls"），"tenthousandtimesdearestMD，"andsoforthinahundredrepetitions。Theyare，everynowandthen，"poorMD，"butobviouslynotbecauseoftheirowncomplaining。Swiftcalledthemsobecausetheyweremortal；andhe，likeallgreatsouls，livedandloved，consciouseverydayoftheprice，whichisdeath。

Thetwowerejoinedbylove，notwithoutsolemnity，thoughman，withhissummaryandwholesaleready-madesentiment，hasthusobstinatelyputthemasunder。Nowholesalesentimentcandootherwisethanfoolishlyplayhavocwithsucharelation。ToSwiftitwasthemostsecludedthingintheworld。"Iamwearyoffriends，andfriendshipsareallmonsters，exceptMD’s；""IoughttoreadtheselettersIwriteafterIhavedone。ButIhopeitdoesnotpuzzlelittleDingleytoread，forIthinkImend：butmethinks，"headds，"whenIwriteplain，Idonotknowhow，butwearenotalone，alltheworldcanseeus。Abadscrawlissosnug；itlookslikePMD。"

Again："IdonotlikewomensomuchasIdid。MD，youmustknow，arenotwomen。""GodAlmightypreserveyoubothandmakeushappytogether。""IsayAmenwithallmyheartandvitals，thatwemayneverbeasundertendaystogetherwhilepoorPrestolives。"

"Farewell，dearestbelovedMD，andlovepoor，poorPresto，whohasnothadonehappydaysinceheleftyou，ashopesaved。"

Withthem——withher——hehidhimselfintheworld，atCourt，atthebarofSt。James’scoffee-house，whitherhewentontheIrishmail-

day，andwas"inpainexcepthesawMD’slittlehandwriting。"Hehidwiththeminthelonglaboursoftheseexquisiteletterseverynightandmorning。Ifnolettercame，hecomfortedhimselfwiththinkingthat"hehadityettobehappywith。"Andtheworldhasagreedtohideunderitsownmanifoldandlachrymoseblundersthegraceandsingularity——thedistinction——ofthissweetromance。

"Little，sequesteredpleasure-house"——itseemedasthough"themanycouldnotmissit，"butnoteventhefewhavefoundit。

ItispartoftheschemeofthesympathetichistorianthatStellashouldbethevictimofhopedeferred，watchingforlettersfromSwift。ButdayandnightPrestocomplainsofthescantinessofMD’slittleletters；hewaitsupon"her"will："Ishallmakeasortofjournal，andwhenitisfullIwillsenditwhetherMDwritesornot；andsothatwillbepretty。""Naughtygirlsthatwillnotwritetoabody！""Iwishyouwerewhippedforforgettingtosend。

Go，befarenough，negligentbaggages。""You，MistressStella，shallwriteyourshare，andthencomesDingleyaltogether，andthenStellaalittlecrumbattheend；andthenconcludewithsomethinghandsomeandgenteel，as’yourmosthumblecumdumble。’"ButScottandMacaulayandThackerayareallexceedinglysorryforStella。

Swiftismostcharmingwhenheisfeigningtocomplainofhistask：

"HereissuchastirandbustlewiththislittleMDofours；Imustbewritingeverynight；OLord，OLord！""Imustgowriteidlethings，andtwittletwattle。""Thesesaucyjadestakeupsomuchofmytimewithwritingtotheminthemorning。"IsitnotastealthywrongdoneuponMrs。Dingleythatsheshouldbestrippedofalltheseornamentstohernameandmemory？WhenSwifttellsawomaninaletterthatthereheis"writinginbed，likeatiger，"sheshouldgogayintheeyesofallgenerations。

TheywillnotletStellagogay，becauseofsentiment；andtheywillnotletMrs。Dingleygogay，becauseofsentimentforStella。Marrycomeup！Whydidnotthehistoriansassignallthetenderpassages（takenveryseriously）toStella，andletDingleyhavethejokes，then？ThatwouldhavebeennoillshareforDingley。Butno，forsooth，Dingleyisallowednothing。

Therearepassages，nevertheless，whichcanhardlybetakenfromher。FornowandthenSwiftpartshisdearMD。Whenhedoessoheinvariablydropsthoseinitialsandwrites"Stella"or"Ppt"fortheone，and"D"or"Dingley"fortheother。Thereisnoexceptiontothisanywhere。HeisanxiousaboutStella’s"littleeyes，"andaboutherhealthgenerally；whereasDingleyisstrong。PoorPpt，hethinks，willnotcatchthe"newfever，"becausesheisnotwell；

"butwhyshouldDescapeit，pray？"AndMrs。DingleyisrebukedforhertaleofajourneyfromDublintoWexford。"Idoubt，MadamDingley，youareapttolieinyourtravels，thoughnotsobadasStella；shetellsthumpers。"Stellaisoftenreprovedforherspelling，andMrs。Dingleywritesmuchthebetterhand。Butsheisapuzzle-headedwoman，likeanother。"Whatdoyoumeanbymyfourthletter，MadamDinglibus？DoesnotStellasayyouhadmyfifth，goodyBlunder？""Now，MistressDingley，areyounotanimpudentsluttoexceptaletternextpacket？Unreasonablebaggage！No，littleDingley，Iamalwaysinbedbytwelve，andItakegreatcareofmyself。""Youareapretendingslut，indeed，withyour’fourth’

and’fifth’inthemargin，andyour’journal’andeverything。O

Lord，neversawthelike，weshallneverhavedone。""Ineversawsuchaletter，sosaucy，sojournalish，soeverything。"Swiftisinsistentlygratefulfortheirinquiriesforhishealth。Hepausesseriouslytothanktheminthemidstofhisprattle。Bothwomen——

MD——areralliedontheirpolitics："IhaveafancythatPptisaTory，Ifancyshelookslikeone，andDasortoftrimmer。"

ButitisforDingleyseparatelythatSwiftenduredawildbirdinhislodgings。HismanPatrickhadgotonetotakeovertoherinIreland。"Hekeepsitinacloset，whereitmakesaterriblelitter；butIsaynothing；Iamastameasaclout。"

ForgottenDingley，happyinthis，hasnothadtoenduretheignominy，inahundredessays，toberetrospectivelyofferedtoSwiftasanunclaimedwife；sofarsogood。Buttwohundredyearsislongforhertohavegonestrippedofsoradiantagloryasishersbyright。"Better，thankstoMD’sprayers，"wrotetheimmortalmanwholovedher，inaprivatefragmentofajournal，nevermeantforDingley’seyes，norforPpt’s，norforanyhumaneyes；andtherogueStellahasfortwocenturiesstolenallthecreditofthoseprayers，andallthethanksofthatpiousbenediction。

PRUE

Throughthelonghistoryofhumanrelations，whichisthehistoryofthelifeofourrace，theresoundsatintervalstheclamourofasinglevoicewhichhasnotthetoneoforatory，butasks，answers，interruptsitself，interrupts——whatelse？Whateverelseitinterruptsissilence；therearepauses，butnoanswers。Thereisthejestwithoutthelaugh，andagainthelaughwithoutthejest。

AndthisisbecausetheletterswrittenbyMadamedeSevignewereallsaved，andnotmanywrittentoher；becauseSwiftburntthelettersthatwerethedearestthingsinlifetohim，while"MD"bothmadeatreasuryofhis；andbecausePruekeptalltheletterswhichSteelewrotetoherfromtheirmarriage-dayonwards，andSteelekeptnoneofhers。

InSwift’scasethesilenceisfullofechoes；thatistosay，hislettersrepeatthephrasesofStella’sandDingley’s，toplaywiththem，floutthem，andtossthembackagainstthetwosilencedvoices。Heneverletsthewordofthesetwowomenfalltotheground；andwhentheyhavebutblunderedwithit，andaimeditwide，andsentitweakly，hewillcatchit，andplayyoutwentydelicateandexpertjugglingprankswithitashesendsitbackintotheirinnocentfaces。SowehavesomethingofMD’slettersinthe"journal，"andthisintheonlyforminwhichwedesirethem，totellthetruth；forwhenSwiftgravelysavesussomespecimensofStella’swit，afterherdeath，asshespokethem，andnotashemimickedthem，theymakeasorryshow。

Inmanycorrespondences，whereonevoiceremainsandtheotherisgone，theretortisenoughfortwo。Itisaswhen，theotherday，thehalfofaprettyquarrelbetweennurseandchildcamedownfromanupperfloortotheearsofamotherwhodecidedthatsheneednotinterfere。Thevoiceoftheundauntedchilditwasthatwasaudiblealone，anditreplied，"I’mnot；YOUare"；andanon，"I’lltellYOURS。"Nothingwasreallymissingthere。

ButSteele’sletterstoPrue，hiswife，arenosuchsimplematter。

Theturnweshallgivethemdependsupontheunheardtonewheretotheyreply。Andthereisroomforconjecture。IthaspleasedthemoremodernofthemanyspiritsofbantertosupplyPrue’seternalsilencewiththevoiceofascold。ItispainfultometocomplainofThackeray；butseewhatafigurehemakesofPruein"Esmond。"

Itis，saysthenineteenth-centuryhumourist，indefenceagainstthepursuitofajealous，exacting，neglected，orevadedwifethatpoorDickSteelesendsthoselittlenotesofexcuse："DearestBeingonearth，pardonmeifyoudonotseemetilleleveno’clock，havingmetaschoolfellowfromIndia"；"Mydear，dearwife，IwritetoletyouknowIdonotcomehometodinner，beingobligedtoattendsomebusinessabroad，ofwhichIshallgiveyouanaccount（whenIseeyouintheevening），asbecomesyourdutifulandobedienthusband"；

"DearPrue，Icannotcomehometodinner。Ilanguishforyourwelfare"；"IstayhereinordertogetTonsontodiscountabillforme，andshalldinewithhimtothatend"；andsoforth。OnceonlydoesSteelereallyaffordtherecenthumouristthesuggestionthatisapparentlyalwayssowelcome。ItiswhenhewritesthatheisinvitedtosuppertoMr。Boyle’s，andadds："DearPrue，donotsendafterme，forIshallberidiculous。"Buteventhisistobereadnotungracefullybyawell-gracedreader。Pruewasyoungandunusedtotheworld。Herhusband，bytheway，hadbeenalreadymarried；

andhisgreateragemakeshisconstantdeferenceallthemorecharming。

Butwiththisoneexception，Steele’slittlenotes，keptbyhiswifewhileshelived，andtreasuredafterherdeathbyherdaughterandhis，arenorecordofthewatchingsanddodgingsofaLondonfarce。

ItisworthwhiletorememberthatSteele’sdinner，whichitwassooftendifficulttoeatathome，wasathingofmidday，andthereforeofmid-business。Butthatisadetail。WhatisdesirableisthatareasonabledegreeofsweetnessshouldbeattributedtoPrue；foritisnomorethanjust。ToherSteelewroteinadedication："Howoftenhasyourtendernessremovedpainfrommyachinghead，howoftenanguishfrommyafflictedheart。Iftherearesuchbeingsasguardianangels，theyarethusemployed。Icannotbelieveoneofthemtobemoregoodininclination，ormorecharminginform，thanmywife。"

True，thiswasforthepublic；butnotsowerethesedailynotes；

andthesecarrytoherhisassurancethatsheis"thebeautifullestobjectintheworld。IknownohappinessinthislifeinanydegreecomparabletothepleasureIhaveinyourpersonandsociety。""Butindeed，thoughyouhaveeveryperfection，youhaveanextravagantfault，whichalmostfrustratesthegoodinyoutome；andthatis，thatyoudonotlovetodress，toappear，toshineout，evenatmyrequest，andtomakemeproudofyou，orrathertoindulgetheprideIhavethatyouaremine。"Thecorrectionofthephraseisfinelyconsiderate。

Pruecannothavebeenadullwife，forthislastcomplimentisareply，fullofpolitealacrity，toaletterfromheraskingforalittleflattery。Howassiduously，andwithwhatacivilizedabsenceofuncouthness，ofshame-facedness，andofslangofthemind，withwhatsimplicity，alertness，andfinish，doeshestepoutatherinvitation，andperform！Shewantedacompliment，thoughtheyhadbeenlongmarriedthen，andheimmediatelyturnedit。ThiswasnodowdyPrue。

Herrequest，bytheway，whichherepeatsinobeyingit，isoneofthefewinstancesoftheothersideofthecorrespondence——oneofthefewdirectechoesofthatoneofthetwovoiceswhichissilent。

Theceremonyofthelettersandthedeferentmethodofaddressandsignatureareneverdroppedinthismostintimateofletter-writing。

Itisnotalittledepressingtothinkthatinthisveryformandstateissupposed，bythemodernreader，tolurkthestealthinessofthehusbandoffarce，the"rogue。"Onedoesnotliketheword。IsitnotclownishtoapplyitwithintentiontothehusbandofPrue？

Hedidnotpay，hewasalwaysindifficulties，hehidfrombailiffs，hedidmanyotherthingsthattarnishhonour，moreorless，andthingsforwhichhehadtobegPrue’sspecialpardon；butyetheisnotafitsubjectfortheunhandsomeincredulitywhichisproudtobealwaysathandwithanironiccommentaryonsuchlettersashis。

IhavenowishtobowdlerizeSirRichardSteele，hiswaysandwords。

HewrotetoPrueatnightwhentheburgundyhadbeentoomuchforhim，andinthemorningafter。Heannouncesthatheiscomingtoher"withinapintofwine。"Oneofhisgayestletters——alove-

letterbeforethemarriage，addressedto"dearlovelyMrs。

Scurlock"——confessescandidlythathehadbeenpledginghertoowell："Ihavebeeninverygoodcompany，whereyourhealth，underthecharacterofthewomanIlovedbest，hasbeenoftendrunk；sothatImaysaythatIamdeaddrunkforyoursake，whichismorethanIDIEFORYOU。"

Steeleobviouslydrankburgundywildly，asdidhis"goodcompany"；

asdidalsotheadmirableAddison，whowassosolitaryincharacterandsosereneintemperament。Butnoonehas，forthisfault，therighttoputarailingaccusationintothemouthofPrue。Everywomanhasarighttoherownsilence，whetherhersilencebehersofsetpurposeorbyaccident。Andeverycreaturehasarighttosecurityfromthebanteringspeculiartothehumouristsofasucceedingage。Toeverycenturyitsownironies，toeverycenturyitsownvulgarities。InSteele’stimetheyhadtheirs。TheymighthaveralliedPruemorecoarsely，butitwouldhavebeenwithadifferentrallying。Writersofthenineteenthcenturywentabouttorobherofhergrace。

Shekeptsomefourhundredoftheselittlelettersofherlord’s。

Itwasaloyalkeeping。ButwhatdoesThackeraycallit？Hiswordis"thrifty。"Hesays："TherearefourhundredlettersofDickSteele’stohiswife，whichthatthriftywomanpreservedaccurately。"