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David and I Set Forth Upon a Journey
ShehasbeenputtingqualitiesintoDavid,alteringhim,turninghimforeveronalathesincethedayshefirstknewhim,andindeedlongbefore,andallsodeftlythatheisstillcalledachildofnature.WhenyoureleaseDavid’shandheisimmediatelylostlikeanarrowfromthebow.Nosoonerdoyoucasteyesonhimthanyouarethinkingofbirds.ItisdifficulttobelievethathewalkstotheKensingtonGardens;healwaysseemstohavealightedthere:andwereItoscattercrumbsIopinehewouldcomeandpeck.Thisisnotwhathesetouttobe;itisallthedoingofthattimid-lookingladywhoaffectstobegreatlysurprisedbyit.Hestrikesahundredgallantposesinaday;whenhetumbles,whichisoften,hecomestothegroundlikeaGreekgod;soMaryA——haswilledit.Buthowshesuffersthathemayachieve!Ihaveseenhimclimbingatreewhileshestoodbeneathinunutterableanguish;shehadtolethimclimb,forboysmustbebrave,butIamsurethat,asshewatchedhim,shefellfromeverybranch.
Davidadmiresherprodigiously;hethinkshersogoodthatshewillbeabletogethimintoheaven,howevernaughtyheis.Otherwisehewouldtrespasslesslight-heartedly.Perhapsshehasdiscoveredthis;for,asIlearnfromhim,shewarnedhimlatelythatsheisnotsuchadearashethinksher.
“Iamverysureofit,”Ireplied.
“Isshesuchadearasyouthinkher?”heaskedme.
“Heavenhelpher,”Isaid,“ifshebenotdearerthanthat.
