Thatshecouldwritemostagreeablyiscertain。Ihaveseenlettersofherstofriendswhichprovethatclearlyenough。WhethershewouldfindproseorversethemostnaturalmodeofexpressionI
cannotsay,butIknowsheispassionatelyfondofpoetry,andI
shouldnotbesurprisedif,laidawayamongthepressedpansiesandrosesofpastsummers,therewerepoems,songs,perhaps,ofherown,whichshesingstoherselfwithherfingerstouchingthepiano;fortothatshetellshersecretsintonessweetasthering—dove\'scalltohermate。
IamafraiditmaybesuggestedthatIamdrawingNumberFive\'sportraittoonearlyaftersomemodelwhoisunconsciouslysittingforit;buthaven\'tItoldyouthatyoumustnotlookforfleshandbloodpersonalitiesbehindorbeneathmyTeacups？Iamnotgoingtomakethesesolifelikethatyouwillbesaying,ThisisMr。orMiss,orMrs。So—and—So。Myreadersmustrememberthatthereareverymanypretty,sweet,amiablegirlsandwomensittingattheirpianos,andfindingchordstothemusicoftheirheart—strings。IfIhavepicturedNumberFiveasoneofherlambsmightdoit,IhavesucceededinwhatIwantedtoaccomplish。Whydon\'tIdescribeherperson？IfIdo,somegossiporotherwillbesuretosay,\"Oh,hemeansher,ofcourse,\"andfindanametomatchthepronoun。
ItisstrangetoseehowweareallcomingtodependuponthefriendlyaidofNumberFiveinourvariousperplexities。TheCounselloraskedheropinioninoneofthosecaseswhereadivorcewastooprobable,butareconciliationwaspossible。Ittakesawomantosoundawoman\'sheart,andshefoundtherewasstillloveenoughundertheruffledwaterstowarrantthehopeofpeaceandtranquillity。TheyoungDoctorwenttoherforcounselinthecaseofahystericgirlpossessedwiththeideathatshewasabornpoetess,andcoveringwholepagesoffoolscapwithsenselessoutbursts,whichshewroteinparoxysmsofwildexcitement,andreadwitharaptureofself—admirationwhichtherewasnothinginherversestojustifyoraccountfor。HowsweetlyNumberFivedealtwiththatpoordeludedsisterinhertalkwiththeDoctor！\"Yes,\"shesaidtohim,\"nothingcanbefullerofvanity,self—worship,andself—deception。Butwemustbeverygentlewithher。Iknewayounggirltormentedwithaspirations,andpossessedbyabeliefthatshewasmeantforahigherplacethanthatwhichfatehadassignedher,whoneededwholesomeadvice,justasthispooryoungthingdoes。Shedidnotaskforit,anditwasnotoffered。Alas,alas！\'nomancaredforhersoul,\'——nomannorwomaneither。Shewasinherearlyteens,andthethoughtofherearthlyfuture,asitstretchedoutbeforeher,wasmorethanshecouldbear,andshesoughtthepresenceofherMakertoaskthemeaningofherabortiveexistence。——Wewilltalkitover。Iwillhelpyoutakecareofthischild。\"