wn hearts.

"I can still remember how I felt, when in my childhood I sat toward
evening on the flight of steps leading down to the canal, gazing at the
tiny spot gilded by the slender ray of sunlight that made its way
between the high roofs. I always grasped at it and thought I could take
the golden water in my hand. Then it was once more as dull and dirty as
everywhere else in our lagune. But I had fancied or read somewhere,
that if one knew a certain spell it would not turn back to common
water, but remain liquid gold. Yes, if one knew the spell!--

"My good, kind, ever loving, ever thoughtful father! He has given me
to-day a joy never experienced before. Be has found me a teacher and
brought him home at once. The very first words exchanged with the Herr
Doctor have convinced me that he is wholly unlike all the others, that
he knows what I need, what I have not found in books and hitherto have
not asked from men.

"If I should describe the wonderful impression this man and our first
conversation--"

Here the writing suddenly stopped at the bottom of a page. The
following sheets seemed to have been cut out with a small pair
of scissors--how many could not be discovered. Then began in a
clear, regular hand--all the previous writing had shown traces of
agitation--an elaborate account of all Edwin had said during his
lessons. He was astonished, since in his presence she had scarcely
written a name or a date, to see how clearly the essential portion of
his statements was given without the slightest misunderstanding, and
yet in her own words, so that her memory was the least merit. No
description of personal moods and experiences interrupted the quiet
flow of these thoughts, but oftentimes there was a dash or
interrogation point on the margin, a sentence thrown in which showed
that here and there the writer's mind had not yet penetrated the lowest
depths, and was obstinately seeking to fathom them. "This might be
printed just as it stands, as a history of philosophy for women!"
exclaimed Edwin, when he had read the last line. "What a head! And I,
when she was gazing so dreamily into vacancy with her great eyes,
thought 'where is she wandering'--when she perhaps understood better
than her teacher.

"It's a pity that it closes so soon! I should like to see what she
would have made of later events. But there's something more."

He had turned the page and now read as follows:

"The most difficult thing in life has