o well as she seemed, to wish to know whether she
was a delusion or a reality. What good would it do me if I found out
that she too was a parrot, or a goose, or any other kind of bird or
beast? The fairest hope would go out of my life, and I should have
little or nothing left worth living for. I must confess that my
curiosity often tormented me beyond endurance, but, as I said, I could
never muster courage enough either to conquer it or to yield to it.
Thus, when at the end of a week I was allowed to sit up, I knew no
more about Mabel's real character than I had known before. I saw that
she was patient, kind-hearted, sweet-tempered,--that her comings and
goings were as quiet and pleasant as those of the sunlight which now
stole in unhindered and again vanished through the uncurtained
windows. And, after all, had I not known that always? One thing,
however, I now knew better than before, and that was that I never
could love anybody as I loved Mabel, and that I hoped some time to
make her my wife.

A couple of days elapsed, and then I was permitted to return to my own
lonely rooms. And very dreary and desolate did they seem to me after
the pleasant days I had spent, playing sick, with Mabel and the
professor. I did try once or twice the effect of my spectacles on some
of my friends, and always the result was astonishing. Once I put them
on in church, and the minister, who had the reputation of being a very
pious man, suddenly stood before me as a huge fox in gown and bands.
His voice sounded like a sort of a bark, and his long snout opened and
shut again in such a funny fashion that I came near laughing aloud.
But, fortunately, I checked myself and looked for a moment at a couple
of old maids in the pew opposite. And, whether you will believe me or
not, they looked exactly like two dressed-up magpies, while the stout
old gentleman next to them had the appearance of a sedate and pious
turkey-cock. As he took out his handkerchief and blew his nose--I mean
his bill--the laughter again came over me, and I had to stoop down in
the pew and smother my merriment. An old chum of mine, who was a
famous sportsman and a great favorite with the ladies, turned out to
be a bull-dog, and as he adjusted his neck-tie and pulled up his
collar around his thick, hairy neck, I had once more to hide my face
in order to preserve my gravity.

I am afraid, if I had gone on with my observations, I should have lost
my faith in many a man and woman