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oking at men in the multitude； I marvel that they have advanced so far。
Foolishly arrogant as I was； I used to judge the worth of a person by his intellectual power and attainment。 I could see no good where there was no logic； no charm where there was no learning。 Now I think that one has to distinguish between two forms of intelligence； that of the brain； and that of the heart； and I have e to regard the second as by far the more important。 I guard myself against saying that intelligence does not matter； the fool is ever as noxious as he is wearisome。 But assuredly the best people I have known were saved from folly not by the intellect but by the heart。 They e before me； and I see them greatly ignorant； strongly prejudiced； capable of the absurdest mis…reasoning； yet their faces shine with the supreme virtues； kindness； sweetness； modesty； generosity。 Possessing these qualities； they at the same time understand how to use them； they have the intelligence of the heart。
This poor woman who labours for me in my house is even such a one。 From the first I thought her an unusually good servant； after three years of acquaintance； I find her one of the few women I have known who merit the term of excellent。 She can read and write……that is all。 More instruction would； I am sure； have harmed her； for it would have confused her natural motives； without supplying any clear ray of mental guidance。 She is fulfilling the offices for which she was born； and that with a grace of contentment； a joy of conscientiousness； which puts her high among civilized beings。 Her delight is in order and in peace； what greater praise can be given to any of the children of men？
The other day she told me a story of the days gone by。 Her mother； at the age of twelve； went into domestic service； but on what conditions； think you？ The girl's father； an honest labouring man； PAID the person whose house she entered one shilling a week for her instruction in the duties she wished to undertake。 What a grinning stare would e to the face of any labourer nowadays； who should be asked to do the like！ I no longer wonder that my housekeeper so little resembles the average of her kind。
XVII
A day of almost continuous rain； yet for me a day of delight。 I had breakfasted； and was poring over the map of Devon （how I love a good map！） to trace an expedition that I have in view； when a knock came at my door； and Mrs。 M。 bore in a great brown…paper parcel； which I saw at a glance must contain books。 The order was sent to London a few days ago； I had not expected to have my books so soon。 With throbbing heart I set the parcel on a clear table； eyed it whilst I mended the fire； then took my pen…knife； and gravely； deliberately； though with hand that trembled； began to unpack。
It is a joy to go through booksellers' catalogues； ticking here and there a possible purchase。 Formerly； when I could seldom spare money； I kept catalogues as much as possible out of sight； now I savour them page by page； and make a pleasant virtue of the discretion I must needs impose upon myself。 But greater still is the happiness of unpacking volumes which one has bought without seeing them。 I am no hunter of rarities； I care nothing for first editions and for tall copies； what I buy is literature； food for the soul of man。 The first glimpse of bindings when the inmost protective wrapper has been folded back！ The first scent of BOOKS！ The first gleam of a gilded title！ Here is a work the name of which has been known to me for half a lifetime； but which I never yet saw； I take it reverently in my hand； gently I open it； my eyes are dim with excitement as I glance over chapter…headings； and anticipate the treat which awaits me。 Who； more than I； has taken to heart that sentence of the Imitatio……〃In omnibus requiem quaesivi； et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro〃？
I had in me the making of a scholar。 ind； I should have amassed learning。 Within the walls of a college； I should have lived so happily； so harmlessly； my imagination ever busy with the old world。 In the introduction to his History of France； Michelet says： 〃J'ai passe e cote du monde； et j'ai pris l'histoire pour la vie。〃 That； as I can see now； was my true ideal； through all my battlings and miseries I have always lived more in the past than in the present。 At the time when I was literally starving in London； when it seemed impossible that I should ever gain a living by my pen； how many days have I spent at the British Museum； reading as disinterestedly as if I had been without a care！ It astounds me to remember that； having breakfasted on dry bread； and carrying in my pocket another piece of bread to serve for dinner； I settled myself at a desk in the great Reading… Room with books before me which by no possibility could be a source of immediate profit。 At such a time； I worked through German tomes on Ancient Philosophy。 At such a time； I read Appuleius and Lucian； Petronius and the Greek Anthology； Diogenes Laertius and……heaven knows what！ My hunger was forgotten； the garret to which I must return to pass the night never perturbed my thoughts。 On the whole； it seems to me something to be rather proud of； I smile approvingly at that thin； white…faced youth。 Me？ My very self？ No； no！ He has been dead these thirty years。
Scholarship in the high sense was denied me； and now it is too late。 Yet here am I gloating over Pausanias； and promising myself to read every word of him。 Who that has any tincture of old letters would not like to read Pausanias； instead of mere quotations from him and references to him？ Here are the volumes of Dahn's Die Konige der Germanen： who would not like to know all he can about the Teutonic conquerors of Rome？ And so on； and so on。 To the end I shall be reading……and forgetting。 Ah； that's the worst of it！ Had I at mand all the knowledge I have at any time possessed； I might call myself a learned man。 Nothing surely is so bad for the memory as long…enduring worry； agitation； fear。 I cannot preserve more than a few fragments of what I read； yet read I shall； persistently； rejoicingly。 Would I gather erudition for a future life？ Indeed； it no longer troubles me that I forget。 I have the happiness of the passing m