not understand the reaction of matter on spirit.

'You are too impatient of the complex; and, not enjoying
variety in unity, you become lost in abstractions, and cannot
illustrate your principles.'

On the other hand, Mr. Alcott's impressions of Margaret were thus
noted in his diaries:--

"She is clearly a person given to the boldest speculation, and
of liberal and varied acquirements. Not wanting in imaginative
power, she has the rarest good sense and discretion. She
adopts the Spiritual Philosophy, and has the subtlest
perception of its bearings. She takes large and generous views
of all subjects, and her disposition is singularly catholic.
The blending of sentiment and of wisdom in her is most
remarkable; and her taste is as fine as her prudence. I think
her the most brilliant talker of the day. She has a quick
and comprehensive wit, a firm command of her thoughts, and a
speech to win the ear of the most cultivated."

In her own classes Margaret was very successful, and thus in a letter
sums up the results:--

'I am still quite unwell, and all my pursuits and propensities
have a tendency to make my head worse. It is but a bad
head,--as bad as if I were a great man! I am not entitled to
so bad a head by anything I have done; but I flatter myself it
is very interesting to suffer so much, and a fair excuse for
not writing pretty letters, and saying to my friends the good
things I think about them.

'I was so desirous of doing all I could, that I took a great
deal more upon myself than I was able to bear. Yet now that
the twenty-five weeks of incessant toil are over, I rejoice in
it all, and would not have done an iota less. I have fulfilled
all my engagements faithfully; have acquired more power of
attention, self-command, and fortitude; have acted in life as
I thought I would in my lonely meditations; and have gained
some knowledge of means. Above all,--blessed be the Father
of our spirits!--my aims are the same as they were in the
happiest flight of youthful fancy. I have learned too, at
last, to rejoice in all past pain, and to see that my spirit
has been judiciously tempered for its work. In future I may
sorrow, but can I ever despair?

'The beginning of the winter was forlorn. I was always ill;
and often thought I might not live, though the work was but
just