d one's faith as implicit as mine,--when one's one endless,
supreme question about everything is Pilate's bewildered, "What is
Truth?"--when from history, science, literature, art, nature, one
receives every impression with the child's yearning query, "But is it
true?" it makes one feel desperate and deplorable thus to have one
teacher contradict and discredit another. After all, all knowledge by
degrees turns to ignorance, as it were, by dint of more knowledge; and
human progress, passing from stage to stage in its incessant onward
flight, leaves deserted, from day to day and hour to hour, its temporary
abiding-places. There is no rest for those who learn, and ignorance is a
great deal more complete and perfect a thing, _here_, at any rate, than
knowledge; with which paradox let me hug my ignorance, only regretting
that I ever spoiled it by learning even so much as my alphabet.

In spite of Mrs. Marcet's son-in-law, I have finished Liebig, and now
have only "Wilhelm Meister" to read, which is one of the most wonderful
books that ever was written. I have read it often, and each time I do so
I think it more wonderful than before. Do you remember poor Mignon's
last song?--"Sorrow hath made me early old, make me again for ever
young!" No wonder you love youth, my dear; in heaven there are no old
people.

The gardens in which this house stands are exquisite, and full of lovely
children, who are a perpetual delight to me.

Good-bye, my dear.

BATH, Friday, June 4th.
DEAR HAL,

... I have just spent a delightful hour with three charming little
creatures, children of the master of this hotel, for whom I have been
buying toys, and who have been amusing themselves with them and allowing
me a time of enchanting participation.

I drove this morning, because you told me to do so, through the piece of
ground they call the park here. It is extremely pretty, and I never grow
weary of admiring the orderly love of beauty of our people.

I have had another long visit from Mr. C---- this morning.... Certainly
novelists invent nothing more improbable than life.

I had an explanation with Charles Mason yesterday afternoon, and he did
not appear at all annoyed at my intention of discontinuing our present
arrangement. I shall give up to him the entire receipts for one night,
as else I am afraid he will hardly do more than cover his expenses.
Then--the money that worthy man at Liverpo