that each night brings is sound and deep. Now and again I am seized with a passionate longing to see them all at home. I shut my eyes and picture them to myself so strongly that my spirit seems to go out of my body and stand in their midst; I wander in at the school-room door, and look on all their faces, one by one, and if they only knew I was there, if they spoke to me. I am sure I should hear them. . . .
I had a letter from mother this morning. She bids me use my time profitably and waste none, for it is more precious than gold. She need not be afraid: I know that now is my apprentice time, now that breathing space that is given to all young people, and which, once wasted, will come back to them never more. Somehow a girl's mind at school always makes me think of a field on which the seed is sown, which will either take root and ripen abundantly, or wither away, leaving it bare and unadorned. I never knew how really ignorant I was till I came here. I don't remember ever thinking about the matter, but I had a vague idea that I was a good deal worse than Milly, but rather better than Jack. Now I stand forth a confessed ignoramus, and am beaten at all points by pert youngsters of twelve and thirteen. Fortunately I know the nakedness of my mind, so there is a hope that at some future day it may be decently clad. It is curious that the more one knows the more acutely one feels one's bareness. Intensely, thoroughly ignorant people attain to a height of self-esteem, that the man who has spent a lifetime in amassing knowledge, only to find that all he knows is but a drop in the full cup of knowledge, can never hope to reach. My studies do not prevent my getting into plenty of scrapes; often and often my madcap pranks get me into hot water, but good luck pulls me safely through. We go for wonderful walks through such lovely country as Silverbridge could never boast. The school is built on the top of a hill, and on three sides the ground slopes away to the valleys. Following the road
