sky, giving it a tenderer beauty, and casting picturesque shades over the landscape below. From her letters to different friends I select a few examples of these feelings.
‘The world turns round and round, and you too must
needs be negligent and capricious. You have not
answered my note; you have not given me what I
asked. You do not come here. Do not you act so, — it
is the drop too much. The world seems not only turning
but tottering, when my kind friend plays such a part.’
‘You need not have delayed your answer so long;
why not at once answer the question I asked? Faith is
not natural to me; for the love I feel to others is not in
the idleness of poverty, nor can I persist in believing
the best, merely to save myself pain, or keep a leaning
place for the weary heart. But I should believe you,
because I have seen that your feelings are strong and
constant; they have never disappointed me, when
closely scanned.’
‘July 6, 1832. — I believe I behaved very badly the
other evening. I did not think so yesterday. I had
been too surprised and vexed to recover very easily,
but to-day my sophistries have all taken wing, and I
feel that nothing good could have made me act with
such childish petulance and bluntness towards one
who spoke from friendly emotions. Be at peace; I
will astonish you by my repose, mildness, and self-possession.
No, that is silly; but I believe it cannot be
right to be on such terms with any one, that, on the
least vexation, I indulge my feelings at his or her
expense. We will talk less, but we shall be very good
friends still, I hope. Shall not we?’
