Those persons who start with a certain bias of
mind in one direction seldom notice any facts that would throw out
of joint those previously amassed; they instinctively collect the
ones that 'match,' all others having a tendency to disturb the
harmony of the original scheme. The clergyman's travelling
companion is a person who possesses not a single opinion,
conviction, or trait in common with him; so we conclude that they
joined forces for economy's sake. This comrade we call 'the man
with the evergreen heart,' for we can hardly tell by his appearance
whether he is an old young man or a young old one. With his hat on
he is juvenile; when he removes it, he is so distinctly elderly that
we do not know whether to regard him as damaged youth or well-
preserved old age; but he transfers his solicitous attentions to
lady after lady, rebuffs not having the slightest effect upon his
warm, susceptible, ardent nature. We suppose that he is single, but
we know that he can be married at a moment's notice by anybody who
is willing to accept the risks of the situation. Then we have a
nice schoolmaster, so agreeable that Salemina, Francesca, and I draw
lots every evening as to who shall sit beside him next day. He has
just had seventy boys down with measles at the same time, giving
prizes to those who could show the best rash! Salemina is no friend
to the competitive system in education, but this appealed to her as
being as wise as it was whimsical.
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