don\'tfindthereIwillgetatthePublicLibrary。Ishallwanttoaskyouaquestionnowandthen。”
Thedoctorlookedatherwithakindofadmiration，butthoughtfully，asifhefearedshewasthinkingofatasktooformidableforherslightconstitutionalresource。
Shereturned，instinctively，totheapparentcontradictioninherstatementsaboutherself。
\"Iamnotafool，ifIamignorant。Yes，doctor，Isailonawideseaofignorance，butIhavetakensoundingsofsomeofitsshallowsandsomeofitsdepths。Yourprofessiondealswiththefactsoflifethatinterestmemostjustnow，andIwanttoknowsomethingofit。
PerhapsImayfinditacallingsuchaswouldsuitme。”
\"Doyouseriouslythinkofbecomingapractitionerofmedicine？\"saidthedoctor。
\"Certainly，Iseriouslythinkofitasapossibility，butIwanttoknowsomethingmoreaboutitfirst。PerhapsIsha\'n\'tbelieveinmedicineenoughtopractiseit。PerhapsIsha\'n\'tlikeitwellenough。Nomatteraboutthat。Iwishtostudysomeofyourbestbooksonsomeofthesubjectsthatmostinterestme。Iknowaboutbonesandmusclesandallthat，andaboutdigestionandrespirationandsuchthings。Iwanttostudyupthenervoussystem，andlearnallaboutit。Iamofthenervoustemperamentmyself，andperhapsthatisthereason。Iwanttoreadaboutinsanityandallthatrelatestoit。”
Acuriousexpressionflittedacrossthedoctor\'sfeaturesasTheTerrorsaidthis。
\"Nervoussystem。Insanity。Shehasheadaches，Iknow，——allthoselarge-headed，hard-thinkinggirlsdo，asamatterofcourse；butwhathassetheroffaboutinsanityandthenervoussystem？Iwonderifanyofhermoreremoterelativesaresubjecttomentaldisorder。
Brightpeopleveryoftenhavecrazyrelations。Perhapssomeofherfriendsareinthatway。Iwonderwhether\"——thedoctordidnotspeakanyofthesethoughts，andinfacthardlyshapedhis\"whether，\"forTheTerrorinterruptedhistrainofreflection，orratherstruckintoitinawaywhichstartledhim。
\"WhereisthefirstvolumeofthisMedicalCyclopaedia？\"sheasked，lookingatitsemptyplaceontheshelf。
\"Onmytable，\"thedoctoranswered。\"Ihavebeenconsultingit。”
Luridaflungitopen，inhereagerway，andturnedthepagesrapidlyuntilshecametotheoneshewanted。Thedoctorcasthiseyeonthebeadingofthepage，andsawthelargelettersANT。
\"Ithoughtso，\"hesaidtohimself。\"Weshallknoweverythingthereisinthebooksaboutantipathiesnow，ifweneverdidbefore。Shehasaspecialobjectinstudyingthenervoussystem，justasI
suspected。Ithinkshedoesnotcaretomentionitatthistime；butifshefindsoutanythingofinterestshewilltellme，ifshedoesanybody。Perhapsshedoesnotmeantotellanybody。Itisaratherdelicatebusiness，——ayounggirlstudyingthenaturalhistoryofayoungman。Notquitesosafeasbotanyorpalaeontology!
Lurida，latelyTheTerror，nowMissVincent，hadherownplans，andchosetokeepthemtoherself，forthepresent，atleast。Herhandswerefullenough，itmightseem，withoutundertakingthesolutionofthegreatArrowheadVillageenigma。Butshewasinthemostperfecttraining，sofarasherintelligencewasconcerned；andthesummerresthadrestoredherbodilyvigor，sothatherbrainwaslikeanoverchargedbatterywhichwillfindconductorssomewheretocarryoffitscrowdedenergy。
AtthistimeArrowheadVillagewasenjoyingthemostsuccessfulseasonithadeverknown。ThePansophianSocietyflourishedtoanextraordinarydegreeunderthefosteringcareofthenewSecretary。
Therectorwasagoodfigure-headasPresident，buttheSecretarywasthelifeoftheSociety。Communicationscameinabundantly:somefromthevillageanditsneighborhood，somefromtheUniversityandtheInstitute，somefromdistantandunknownsources。ThenewSecretarywasverybusywiththeworkofexaminingthesepapers。
Afteraforenoonsoemployed，thecarpetofherroomlookedlikeabarnfloorafterahusking-match。Aglanceatthemanuscriptsstrewedabout，orlyinginheaps，wouldhavefrightenedanyyoungwriterawayfromthethoughtofauthorshipasabusiness。Ifthecandidateforthatfearfulcallinghadseentheprocessofselectionandelimination，hewouldhavefeltstillmoredesperately。Apaperoftwentypageswouldcomein，withanunderscoredrequesttopleasereadthrough，carefully。Thatrequestaloneiscommonlysufficienttocondemnanypaper，andpreventitshavinganychanceofahearing；
buttheSecretarywasnothardenedenoughyetforthatkindofmartiallawindealingwithmanuscripts。Thelooker-onmighthaveseenhertakeupthepaper，castoneflashingglanceatitstitle，readthefirstsentenceandthelast，dipataventureintotwoorthreepages，anddecideasswiftlyasthelightningcalculatorwouldaddupacolumnoffigureswhatwastobeitsdestination。Ifrejected，itwentintotheheapontheleft；ifapproved，itwaslaidapart，tobesubmittedtotheCommitteefortheirjudgment。Thefoolishwriterswhoinsistonone\'sreadingthroughtheirmanuscriptpoemsandstoriesoughttoknowhowfataltherequestistotheirprospects。Itprovokesthereader，tobeginwith。Thereadingofmanuscriptisfrightfulwork，atthebest；thereadingofworthlessmanuscript——andmostofthatwhichoneisrequestedtoreadthroughisworthless——wouldaddtotheterrorsofTartarus，ifanyinfernaldeitywereingeniousenoughtosuggestitasapunishment。
IfapaperwasrejectedbytheSecretary，itdidnotcomebeforetheCommittee，butwasreturnedtotheauthor，ifhesentforit，whichhecommonlydid。Itsnaturalcoursewastotryforadmissionintosomeoneofthepopularmagazines:into\"TheSifter，\"themostfastidiousofthemall；ifthatdeclinedit，into\"TheSecondBest；\"
andifthatreturnedit，into\"TheOmnivorous。”Ifitwasrefusedadmittanceatthedoorsofallthemagazines，itmightatlengthfindshelterinthecornerofanewspaper，whereagooddealofveryreadableverseistobemetwithnowadays，someofwhichhasbeen，nodoubt，presentedtothePansophianSociety，butwasnotconsidereduptoitsstandard。
X
ANEWARRIVAL。
Therewasarecentaccessiontothetransientpopulationofthevillagewhichgaverisetosomespeculation。Thenew-comerwasayoungfellow，rathercarelessinhisexterior，butapparentlyasmuchathomeasifheownedArrowheadVillageandeverythinginit。Hecommonlyhadacigarinhismouth，carriedapocketpistol，ofthenon-explosivesort，andastickwithabulldog\'sbeadforitsknob；
woreasoftbat，acoarsechecksuit，alittlebaggy，andgaiterbootswhichhadbeenhalf-soled，——aBohemian-lookingpersonage，altogether。
Thisindividualbeganmakingexplorationsineverydirection。Hewasverycuriousabouttheplaceandallthepeopleinit。HewasespeciallyinterestedinthePansophianSociety，concerningwhichhemadeallsortsofinquiries。ThisledhimtoformasummeracquaintancewiththeSecretary，whowaspleasedtogivehimwhateverinformationheaskedfor；beingproudoftheSociety，asshehadarighttobe，andknowingmoreaboutitthananybodyelse。
ThevisitorcouldnothavebeenlonginthevillagewithouthearingsomethingofMauriceKirkwood，andthestories，trueandfalse，connectedwithhisname。HequestionedeverybodywhocouldtellhimanythingaboutMaurice，andsetdowntheanswersinalittlenote-
bookhealwayshadwithhim。
Allthisnaturallyexcitedthecuriosityofthevillageaboutthisnewvisitor。Amongtherest，MissVincent，notwantinginanattributethoughttobelongmoreespeciallytohersex，becamesomewhatinterestedtoknowmoreexactlywhothisinquiring，note-
takingpersonage，whoseemedtobeeverywhereandtoknoweverybody，mighthimselfbe。MeetinghimatthePublicLibraryatafortunatemoment，whentherewasnobodybuttheoldLibrarian，whowashardofhearing，tointerferewiththeirconversation，thelittleSecretaryhadachancetotrytofindoutsomethingabouthim。
\"Thisisaveryremarkablelibraryforasmallvillagetopossess，\"
heremarkedtoMissLurida。
\"Itis，indeed，\"shesaid。\"Haveyoufounditwellfurnishedwiththebooksyoumostwant？\"
\"Oh，yes，——booksenough。Idon\'tcaresomuchforthebooksasIdofortheNewspapers。IlikeaReviewwellenough，——ittellsyouallthereisinabook；butagoodabstractoftheReviewinaNewspapersavesafellowthetroubleofreadingit。”
\"Youfindthepapersyouwant，here，Ihope，\"saidtheyounglady。
\"Oh，Igetalongprettywell。It\'smyoff-time，andIdon\'tdomuchreadingorwriting。Whoisthecitycorrespondentofthisplace？\"
\"Idon\'tthinkwehaveanyonewhowritesregularly。Nowandthen，thereisaletter，withthegossipoftheplaceinit，oranaccountofsomeofthedoingsatourSociety。Thecitypapersarealwaysgladtogetthereportsofourmeetings，andtoknowwhatisgoingoninthevillage。”
\"IsupposeyouwriteabouttheSocietytothepapers，asyouaretheSecretary。”
Thiswasapoint-blankshot。Shemeanttoquestiontheyoungmanabouthisbusiness，andhereshewasonthewitness-stand。Sheduckedherhead，andletthequestiongooverher。
\"Oh，thereareplentyofmemberswhoarewillingenoughtowrite，——
especiallytogiveanaccountoftheirownpapers。Ithinktheyliketohavemeputintheapplause，whentheygetany。Idothatsometimes。”Howmuchmore，shedidnotsay。
\"Ihaveseensomeverywellwrittenarticles，which，fromwhattheytellmeoftheSecretary，Ishouldhavethoughtshemighthavewrittenherself。”
Helookedherstraightintheeyes。
\"Ihavetransmittedsomegoodpapers，\"shesaid，withoutwinking，orswallowing，orchangingcolor，preciouslittlecolorshehadtochange；herbrainwantedalltheblooditcouldborroworsteal，andmoretoo。\"YouspokeofNewspapers，\"shesaid，withoutanychangeoftoneormanner:\"doyounotfrequentlywriteforthemyourself？\"
\"IshouldthinkIdid，\"answeredtheyoungman。\"Iamaregularcorrespondentof\'ThePeople\'sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。\'\"
\"Theregularcorrespondentfromwhere？\"
\"Where!Oh，anywhere，——theplacedoesnotmakemuchdifference。I
havebeenwritingchieflyfromNaplesandSt。Petersburg，andnowandthenfromConstantinople。”
\"Howlongsinceyourreturntothiscountry，mayIask？\"
\"Myreturn？Ihaveneverbeenoutofthiscountry。Itravelwithagazetteerandsomeguide-books。Itisthecheapestway，andyoucangetthefactsmuchbetterfromthemthanbytrustingyourownobservation。IhavemadethetourofEuropebythehelpofthemandthenewspapers。ButoflateIhavetakentointerviewing。Ifindthataverypleasantspecialty。Itisaboutasgoodsportastrout-
tickling，andmuchthesamekindofbusiness。IshouldliketosendtheSocietyanaccountofoneofmyinterviews。Don\'tyouthinktheywouldliketohearit？\"
\"Ihavenodoubttheywould。Sendittome，andIwilllookitover；
andiftheCommitteeapproveit，wewillhaveitatthenextmeeting。
YouknoweverythinghastobeexaminedandvotedonbytheCommittee，\"saidthecautiousSecretary。
\"Verywell，——Iwillriskit。Afteritisread，ifitisread，pleasesenditbacktome，asIwanttosellitto\'TheSifter，\'or\'TheSecondBest，\'orsomeofthepayingmagazines。”
Thisisthepaper，whichwasreadatthenextmeetingofthePansophianSociety。
\"IwasorderedbytheeditorofthenewspapertowhichIamattached，\'ThePeople\'sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor，\'tomakeavisittoacertainwell-knownwriter，andobtainalltheparticularsIcouldconcerninghimandallthatrelatedtohim。Ihaveinterviewedagoodmanypoliticians，whoIthoughtratherlikedtheprocess；butI
hadnevertriedanyoftheseliterarypeople，andIwasnotquitesurehowthisonewouldfeelaboutit。Isaidasmuchtothechief，buthepooh-poohedmyscruples。\'Itisn\'tourbusinesswhethertheylikeitornot，\'saidhe；\'thepublicwantsit，andwhatthepublicwantsit\'sboundtohave，andweareboundtofurnishit。Don\'tbeafraidofyourman；he\'susedtoit，——he\'sbeenpumpedoftenenoughtotakeiteasy，andwhatyou\'vegottodoistopumphimdry。Youneedn\'tbemodest，——askhimwhatyoulike；heisn\'tboundtoanswer，youknow。\'
Ashelivedinarathernicequarterofthetown，Ismartedmyselfupalittle，putonafreshcollarandcuffs，andgotafive-centshineonmybesthigh-lows。Isaidtomyself，asIwaswalkingtowardsthehousewherehelived，thatIwouldkeepveryshadyforawhileandpassforavisitorfromadistance；oneofthose\'admiringstrangers\'
whocallintopaytheirrespects，togetanautograph，andgohomeandsaythattheyhavemetthedistinguishedSoandSo，whichgivesthemacertaindistinctioninthevillagecircletowhichtheybelong。
\"Myman，thecelebratedwriter，receivedmeinwhatwasevidentlyhisreception-room。Iobservedthathemanagedtogetthelightfullonmyface，whilehisownwasintheshade。Ihadmeanttohavehisfaceinthelight，butheknewthelocalities，andhadarrangedthingssoastogivehimthatadvantage。Itwasliketwofrigatesmanoeuvring，——eachtryingtogettowindwardoftheother。Inevertakeoutmynote-bookuntilIandmymanhavegotengagedinartlessandearnestconversation，——alwaysabouthimselfandhisworks，ofcourse，ifheisanauthor。
\"Ibeganbysayingthathemustreceiveagoodmanycallers。Thosewhohadreadhisbookswerenaturallycurioustoseethewriterofthem。
\"Heassented，emphatically，tothisstatement。Hehad，hesaid，agreatmanycallers。
\"Iremarkedthattherewasaqualityinhisbookswhichmadehisreadersfeelasiftheyknewhimpersonally，andcausedthemtocherishacertainattachmenttohim。
\"Hesmiled，asifpleased。Hewashimselfdisposedtothinkso，hesaid。Infact，agreatmanypersons，strangerswritingtohim，hadtoldhimso。
\"Mydearsir，Isaid，thereisnothingwonderfulinthefactyoumention。Youreacharesponsivechordinmanyhumanbreasts。
\'OnetouchofNaturemakesthewholeworldkin。\'
Everybodyfeelsasifhe，andespeciallyshehiseyessparkled，wereyourbloodrelation。Dotheynotnametheirchildrenafteryouveryfrequently？
\"Heblushedperceptibly。\'Sometimes，\'heanswered。\'Ihopetheywillallturnoutwell。\'
\"IamafraidIamtakinguptoomuchofyourtime，Isaid。
\"No，notatall，\'hereplied。\'Comeupintomylibrary；itiswarmerandpleasanterthere。\'
\"IfeltconfidentthatIhadhimbytherighthandlethen；foranauthor\'slibrary，whichiscommonlyhisworking-room，is，likealady\'sboudoir，asacredapartment。
\"Sowewentupstairs，andagainhegotmewiththedaylightonmyface，whenIwanteditonhas。
\"Youhaveafinelibrary，Iremarked。Therewerebooksallroundtheroom，andoneofthosewhirligigsquarebook-cases。IsawinfrontaBibleandaConcordance，ShakespeareandMrs。CowdenClarke\'sbook，andotherclassicalworksandbooksofgraveaspect。Icontrivedtogiveitaturn，andonthesidenextthewallIgotaglimpseofBarnum\'sRhymingDictionary，andseveralDictionariesofQuotationsandcheapcompendsofknowledge。Alwaystwirloneofthoserevolvingbook-caseswhenyouvisitascholar\'slibrary。Thatisthewaytofindoutwhatbookshedoesn\'twantyoutosee，whichofcoursearetheonesyouparticularlywishtosee。
\"Somemaycallallthisimpertinentandinquisitive。Whatdoyousupposeisaninterviewer\'sbusiness？Didyoueverseeanoysteropened？Yes？Well，aninterviewer\'sbusinessisthesamething。
Hismanishisoyster，whichhe，notwithsword，butwithpencilandnote-book，mustopen。Markhowtheoysterman\'sthinbladeinsinuatesitself，——howgentlyatfirst，howstrenuouslywhenoncefairlybetweentheshells!
\"Andhere，Isaid，youwriteyourbooks，——thosebookswhichhavecarriedyournametoallpartsoftheworld，andwillconveyitdowntoposterity!Isthisthedeskatwhichyouwrite？Andisthisthepenyouwritewith？
\"\'Itisthedeskandtheverypen，\'hereplied。
\"Hewaspleasedwithmyquestionsandmywayofputtingthem。ItookupthepenasreverentiallyasifithadbeenmadeofthefeatherwhichtheangelIusedtoreadaboutinYoung\'s\"NightThoughts\"
oughttohavedropped，anddidn\'t。
\"Wouldyoukindlywriteyourautographinmynote-book，withthatpen？Iaskedhim。Yes，hewould，withgreatpleasure。
\"SoIgotoutmynote-book。
\"Itwasaspickandspannewone，boughtonpurposeforthisinterview。Iadmireyourbookcases，saidI。Canyoutellmejusthowhightheyare？
\"\'Theyareabouteightfeet，withthecornice。\'
\"Ishouldliketohavesomelikethose，ifIevergetrichenough，saidI。Eightfeet，——eightfeet，withthecornice。Imustputthatdown。
\"SoIgotoutmypencil。
\"Isattherewithmypencilandnote-bookinmyhand，allready，butnotusingthemasyet。
\"Ihavehearditsaid，Iobserved，thatyoubeganwritingpoemsataveryearlyage。Isittakingtoogreatalibertytoaskhowearlyyoubegantowriteinverse？
\"Hewasgettinginterested，aspeopleareapttobewhentheyarethemselvesthesubjectsofconversation。
\"\'Veryearly，——Ihardlyknowhowearly。Icansaytruly，asLouiseColetsaid，\'Jefismespremiersverssanssavoirlesecrire。\'\"
\"IamnotaverygoodFrenchscholar，saidI；perhapsyouwillbekindenoughtotranslatethatlineforme。
\"\'Certainly。Withpleasure。Imademyfirstverseswithoutknowinghowtowritethem。\'
\"Howinteresting!ButIneverheardofLouiseColet。Whowasshe？
\"Mymanwaspleasedtogi-vemeapieceofliteraryinformation。
\"\'Louisethelioness!Neverheardofher？YouhaveheardofAlphonseKarr？\'
\"Why，——yes，——moreorless。Totellthetruth，IamnotverywellupinFrenchliterature。Whathadhetodowithyourlioness？
\"\'Agooddeal。Hesatirizedher，andshewaitedathisdoorwithacase-knifeinherhand，intendingtostickhimwithit。Byandbyhecamedown，smokingacigarette，andwasmetbythiswomanflourishinghercase-knife。Hetookitfromher，aftergettingacutinhisdressing-gown，putitinhispocket，andwentonwithhiscigarette。
Hekeepsitwithaninscription:
DonneaAlphonseKarrParMadameLouiseColet……
Dansledos。
Livelylittlefemale!\'
\"Icouldn\'thelpthinkingthatIshouldn\'thavecaredtointerviewthelivelylittlefemale。HewasevidentlytickledwiththeinterestIappearedtotakeinthestoryhetoldme。Thatmadehimfeelamiablydisposedtowardme。
\"Ibeganwithverygeneralquestions，butbydegreesIgotateverythingabouthisfamilyhistoryandthesmalleventsofhisboyhood。Someofthepointstoucheduponweredelicate，butIputagoodboldfaceonmymostaudaciousquestions，andsoIwormedoutagreatdealthatwasnewconcerningmysubject。Hehadbeenwrittenaboutconsiderably，andthepublicwouldn\'thavebeensatisfiedwithoutsomenewfacts；andtheseImeanttohave，andIgot。Nomatteraboutmanyofthemnow，butherearesomequestionsandanswersthatmaybethoughtworthreadingorlisteningto:
\"Howdoyouenjoybeingwhattheycall\'acelebrity，\'oracelebratedman？
\"\'Sofarasone\'svanityisconcerneditiswellenough。Butself-
loveisacupwithoutanybottom，andyoumightpourtheGreatLakesallthroughit，andneverfillitup。Itbreedsanappetiteformoreofthesamekind。Ittendstomakethecelebrityamerelumpofegotism。Itgeneratesacravingforhigh-seasonedpersonalitieswhichisindangerofbecomingslavery，likethatfollowingtheabuseofalcohol，oropium，ortobacco。Thinkofaman\'shavingeveryday，byeverypost，lettersthattellhimheisthisandthatandtheother，withepithetsandendearments，onetenthpartofwhichwouldhavemadehimblushredhotbeforehebegantobewhatyoucallacelebrity!\'
\"Aretherenotsomespecialinconveniencesconnectedwithwhatiscalledcelebrity？
\"\'Ishouldthinkso!Supposeyouwereobligedeverydayofyourlifetostandandshakehands，asthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshastoafterhisinauguration:howdoyouthinkyourhandwouldfeelafterafewmonths\'practiceofthatexercise？Supposeyouhadgivenyouthirty-fivemillionsofmoneyayear，inhundred-dollarcoupons，onconditionthatyoucutthemalloffyourselfintheusualmanner:
howdoyouthinkyoushouldlikethelookofapairofscissorsattheendofayear，inwhichyouhadworkedtenhoursadayeverydaybutSunday，cuttingoffahundredcouponsanhour，andfoundyouhadnotfinishedyourtask，afterall？Yonhaveaddressedmeaswhatyouarepleasedtocall\"aliterarycelebrity。”Iwon\'tdisputewithyouastowhetherornotIdeservethattitle。IwilltakeitforgrantedIamwhatyoucallme，andgiveyousomefewhintsonmyexperience。
\"\'YouknowtherewasformedawhileagoanAssociationofAuthorsforSelf-Protection。Itmeantwell，anditwashopedthatsomethingwouldcomeofitinthewayofrelievingthatoppressedclass，butI
amsorrytosaythatithasnoteffecteditspurpose。\'
\"IsuspectedhehadahandindrawinguptheConstitutionandLawsofthatAssociation。Yes，Isaid，anadmirableAssociationitwas，andasmuchneededastheoneforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals。
Iamsorrytohearthatithasnotprovedeffectualinputtingastoptotheabuseofadeservingclassofmen。Itoughttohavedoneit；
itwaswellconceived，anditspublicmanifestowasamasterpiece。
Isawbyhisexpressionthathewasitsauthor。
\"\'IseeIcantrustyou，\'hesaid。\'Iwillunbosommyselffreelyofsomeofthegrievancesattachingtothepositionoftheindividualtowhomyouhaveappliedtheterm\"LiteraryCelebrity。”
\"\'Heissupposedtobeamillionaire，invirtueoftheimmensesalesofhisbooks，allthemoneyfromwhich，itistakenforgranted，goesintohispocket。Consequently，allsubscriptionpapersarehandedtohimforhissignature，andeveryneedystrangerwhohasheardhisnamecomestohimforassistance。
\"\'Heisexpectedtosubscribeforallperiodicals，andisgoadedbyreceivingblankformulae，which，withtheirpromisestopay，heisexpectedtofillup。
\"\'Hereceivestwoorthreebooksdaily，withrequeststoreadandgivehisopinionabouteachofthem，whichopinion，ifithasawordwhichcanbeusedasanadvertisement，hewillfindquotedinallthenewspapers。
\"\'Hereceivesthickmassesofmanuscript，proseandverse，whichheiscalledupontoexamineandpronounceontheirmerits；thesemanuscriptshavingalmostinvariablybeenrejectedbytheeditorstowhomtheyhavebeensent，andhavingasarulenoliteraryvaluewhatever。
\"\'Heisexpectedtosignpetitions，tocontributetojournals，towriteforfairs，toattendcelebrations，tomakeafter-dinnerspeeches，tosendmoneyforobjectshedoesnotbelieveintoplacesheneverheardof。
\"\'Heiscalledontokeepupcorrespondenceswithunknownadmirers，whobeginbysayingtheyhavenoclaimuponhistime，andthenappropriateitbywritingpageafterpage，ifofthemalesex；andsheetaftersheet，ifoftheother。
\"\'Ifapoet，itistakenforgrantedthathecansitdownatanymomentandspinoffanynumberofversesonanysubjectwhichmaybesuggestedtohim；suchascongratulationstothewriter\'sgreat-
grandmotheronherreachingherhundredthyear，anelegyonaninfantagedsixweeks，anodefortheFourthofJulyinaWesterntownshipnottobefoundinLippincott\'slastedition，perhapsavalentineforsomebucolicloverwhobelievesthatwooinginrhymeisthewaytowintheobjectofhisaffections。\'
\"Isn\'titso？IaskedtheCelebrity。
\"\'Iwouldbetontheproselover。Shewillshowtheversestohim，andtheywillbothhaveagoodlaughoverthem。\'
\"IhaveonlyreportedasmallpartoftheconversationIhadwiththeLiteraryCelebrity。Hewassomuchtakenupwithhispleasingself-
contemplation，whileImadehimairhisopinionsandfeelingsandspreadhischaracteristicsashislaundressspreadsandairshislinenontheclothes-line，thatIdon\'tbelieveiteveroccurredtohimthathehadbeeninthehandsofanintervieweruntilhefoundhimselfexposedtothewindandsunshineinfulldimensionsinthecolumnsofThePeople\'sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。\'\"
Afterthereadingofthispaper，muchcuriositywasshownastowhothepersonspokenofasthe\"LiteraryCelebrity\"mightbe。AmongthevarioussuppositionsthestartlingideawassuggestedthathewasneithermorenorlessthantheunexplainedpersonageknowninthevillageasMauriceKirkwood。Whyshouldthatbehisrealname？WhyshouldnothebetheCelebrity，whohadtakenthisnameandfledtothisretreattoescapefromthepersecutionsofkindfriends，whowereprickinghimandstabbinghimnightodeathwiththeirdaggersofsugarcandy？
TheSecretaryofthePansophianSocietydeterminedtoquestiontheInterviewerthenexttimeshemethimattheLibrary，whichhappenedsoonafterthemeetingwhenhispaperwasread。
\"Idonotknow，\"shesaid，inthecourseofaconversationinwhichshehadspokenwarmlyofhiscontributiontotheliteraryentertainmentoftheSociety，\"thatyoumentionedthenameoftheLiteraryCelebritywhomyouinterviewedsosuccessfully。”
\"Ididnotmentionhim，MissVincent，\"heanswered，\"nordoIthinkitworthwhiletonamehim。Hemightnotcaretohavethewholestorytoldofhowhewashandledsoastomakehimcommunicative。
Besides，ifIdid，itwouldbringhimanewbatchofsympatheticletters，regrettingthathewasbotheredbythosehorridcorrespondents，fullofindignationattheboreswhopresumedtointrudeuponhimwiththeirpagesoftrash，allthewritersofwhichwouldexpectanswerstotheirlettersofcondolence。”
TheSecretaryaskedtheInterviewerifheknewtheyounggentlemanwhocalledhimselfMauriceKirkwood。
\"What，\"heanswered，\"themanthatpaddlesabirchcanoe，andridesallthewildhorsesoftheneighborhood？No，Idon\'tknowhim，butI
havemethimonceortwice，outwalking。Amightyshyfellow，theytellme。Doyouknowanythingparticularabouthim？\"
\"Notmuch。Noneofusdo，butweshouldliketo。Thestoryisthatbehasaqueerantipathytosomethingortosomebody，nobodyknowswhatorwhom。”
\"Tonewspapercorrespondents，perhaps，\"saidtheinterviewer。\"Whatmadeyouaskmeabouthim？Youdidn\'tthinkhewasmy\'LiteraryCelebrity，\'didyou？\"
\"Ididnotknow。Ithoughthemightbe。Whydon\'tyouinterviewthismysteriouspersonage？Hewouldmakeagoodsensationforyourpaper，Ishouldthink。”
\"Why，whatistheretobeinterviewedinhim？Isthereanystoryofcrime，oranythingelsetospiceacolumnorso，orevenafewparagraphs，with？Ifthereis，Iamwillingtohandlehimprofessionally。”
\"Itoldyouhehaswhattheycallanantipathy。Idon\'tknowhowmuchwiseryouareforthatpieceofinformation。”
\"Anantipathy!Why，sohaveIanantipathy。Ihateaspider，andasforanakedcaterpillar，——IbelieveIshouldgointoafitifIhadtotouchone。IknowIturnpaleatthesightofsomeofthosegreatgreencaterpillarsthatcomedownfromtheelm-treesinAugustandearlyautumn。”
\"Afraidofthem？\"askedtheyounglady。
\"Afraid？WhatshouldIbeafraidof？Theycan\'tbiteorsting。I
can\'tgiveanyreason。AllIknowisthatwhenIcomeacrossoneofthesecreaturesinmypathIjumptooneside，andcryout，——
sometimesusingveryimproperwords。Thefactis，theymakemecrazyforthemoment。”
\"Iunderstandwhatyoumean，\"saidMissVincent。\"Iusedtohavethesamefeelingaboutspiders，butIwasashamedofit，andkeptalittlemenagerieofspidersuntilIhadgotoverthefeeling；thatis，prettymuchgotoverit，forIdon\'tlovethecreaturesverydearly，thoughIdon\'tscreamwhenIseeone。”
\"Whatdidyoutellme，MissVincent，wasthisfellow\'sparticularantipathy？\"
Thatisjustthequestion。Itoldyouthatwedon\'tknowandwecan\'tguesswhatitis。Thepeopleherearetiredoutwithtryingtodiscoversomegoodreasonfortheyoungman\'skeepingoutofthewayofeverybody，ashedoes。Theysayheisoddorcrazy，andtheydon\'tseemtobeabletotellwhich。Itwouldmaketheoldladiesofthevillagesleepagreatdealsounder，——yes，andsomeoftheyoungladies，too，——iftheycouldfindoutwhatthisMr。Kirkwoodhasgotintohishead，thathenevercomesnearanyofthepeoplehere。”
\"IthinkIcanfindout，\"saidtheInterviewer，whoseprofessionalambitionwasbeginningtobeexcited。\"InevercameacrossanybodyyetthatIcouldn\'tgetsomethingoutof。Iamgoingtostayhereaweekortwo，andbeforeIgoIwillfindoutthesecret，ifthereisany，ofthisMr。MauriceKirkwood。”
WemustleavetheInterviewertohiscontrivancesuntiltheypresentuswithsomekindofresult，eitherintheshapeofsuccessorfailure。
XI
THEINTERVIEWERATTACKSTHESPHINX。
WhenMissEuthymiaTowersentheroaroffinflashingsplinters，asshepulledherlaststrokeintheboat-race，shedidnotknowwhatastrainshewasputtinguponit。Shedidknowthatshewasdoingherbest，buthowgreattheforceofherbestwasshewasnotawareuntilshesawitseffects。Unconsciousnessbelongedtoherrobustnature，inallitsmanifestations。Shedidnotprideherselfonherknowledge，norreproachherselfforherignorance。Ineverywaysheformedastrikingcontrasttoherfriend，MissVincent。Everywordtheyspokebetrayedthedifferencebetweenthem:thesharptonesofLurida\'shead-voice，penetrative，aggressive，sometimesirritating，revealedthecorrespondingtraitsofmentalandmoralcharacter；thequiet，conversationalcontraltoofEuthymiawastheindexofanaturerestfulandsympathetic。
Thefriendshipsofyounggirlsprefigurethecloserrelationswhichwillonedaycomeinanddissolvetheirearlierintimacies。Thedependenceoftwoyoungfriendsmaybemutual，butonewillalwaysleanmoreheavilythantheother；themasculineandfeminineelementswillbeassuretoassertthemselvesasifthefriendswereofdifferentsexes。
OnallcommonoccasionsEuthymialookeduptoherfriendashersuperior。Shefullyappreciatedallhervariedgiftsandknowledge，anddeferredtoheropinioninevery-daymatters，notexactlyasanoracle，butaswiserthanherselforanyofherothercompanions。Itwasadifferentthing，however，whenthegraverquestionsoflifecameup。Luridawasfullofsuggestions，plans，projects，whichweretooliabletorunintowhimsbeforesheknewwheretheyweretending。
ShewouldlayoutherideasbeforeEuthymiasofluentlyandeloquentlythatshecouldnothelpbelievingthemherself，andfeelingasifherfriendmustacceptthemwithanenthusiasmlikeherown。ThenEuthymiawouldtakethemupwithhersweet，deliberateaccents，andbringhercalmerjudgmenttobearonthem。
Luridawasinanexcitedcondition，inthemidstofallhernewinterestsandoccupations。ShewasconstantlyonthelookoutforpaperstobereadatthemeetingsofherSociety，——forshemadeitherowningreatmeasure，byherzealandenthusiasm，——andinthemeantimeshewasreadinginvariousbookswhichDr。Buttsselectedforher，allbearingontheprofessiontowhich，atleastasapossibility，shewaslookingforward。Privatelyandinaverystillway，shewasoccupyingherselfwiththeproblemoftheyoungstranger，thesubjectofsomedelusion，ordisease，orobliquityofunknownnature，towhichthevaguenameofantipathyhadbeenattached。Euthymiakeptaneyeuponher，partlyinthefearthatover-excitementwouldproducesomementalinjury，andpartlyfromanxietylestsheshouldcompromiseherwomanlydignityinherdesiretogetatthetruthofaverypuzzlingquestion。
\"HowdoyoulikethebooksIseeyoureading？\"saidEuthymiatoLurida，oneday，astheymetattheLibrary。
\"BetterthanallthenovelsIeverread，\"sheanswered。\"Ihavebeenreadingaboutthenervoussystem，anditseemstomeIhavecomenearerthespringsoflifethaneverbeforeinallmystudies。I
feeljustasifIwereatelegraphoperator。IwassurethatIhadabatteryinmyhead，forIknowmybrainworkslikeone；butIdidnotknowhowmanycentresofenergythereare，andhowtheyareplayeduponbyallsortsofinfluences，externalandinternal。Doyouknow，IbelieveIcouldsolvetheriddleofthe\'ArrowheadVillageSphinx，\'
asthepapercalledhim，ifhewouldonlystayherelongenough？\"
\"Whatpaperhashadanythingaboutit，Lurida？Ihavenotseenorheardofitsbeingmentionedinanyofthepapers。”
\"Youknowthatratherqueer-lookingyoungmanwhohasbeenabouthereforsometime，——thesameonewhogavetheaccountofhisinterviewwithacelebratedauthor？Well，hehashandedmeacopyofapaperinwhichhewrites，\'ThePeople\'sPerennialandHouseholdInquisitor。\'Hetalksaboutthisvillageinaveryfreeandeasyway。
HesaysthereisaSphinxhere，whohasmystifiedusall。”
\"Andyouhavebeenchattingwiththatfellow!Don\'tyouknowthathe\'llhaveyouandallofusinhispaper？Don\'tyouknowthatnothingissafewhereoneofthosefellowsgetsinwithhisnote-bookandpencil？Oh，Lurida，Lurida，dobecareful!\"Whatwiththismysteriousyoungmanandthisveryquestionablenewspaper-paragraphwriter，youwillbetalkedabout，ifyoudon\'tmind，beforeyouknowit。YouhadbetterlettheriddleoftheSphinxalone。Ifyoumustdealwithsuchdangerouspeople，thesafestwayistosetoneofthemtofindouttheother——Iwonderifwecan\'tgetthisnewmantointerviewthevisitoryouhavesomuchcuriosityabout。Thatmightbemanagedeasilyenoughwithoutyourhavinganythingtodowithit。
Letmealone，andIwillarrangeit。Butmind，now，youmustnotmeddle；ifyoudo，youwillspoileverything，andgetyournameinthe\'HouseholdInquisitor\'inawayyouwon\'tlike。”
\"Don\'tbefrightenedaboutme，Euthymia。Idon\'tmeantogivehimachancetoworkmeintohispaper，ifIcanhelpit。Butifyoucangethimtotryhisskilluponthisinterestingpersonageandhisantipathy，somuchthebetter。Iamverycuriousaboutit，andthereforeabouthim。Iwanttoknowwhathasproducedthisstrangestateoffeelinginayoungmanwhooughttohaveallthecommoninstinctsofasocialbeing。Ibelievethereareunexplainedfactsintheregionofsympathiesandantipathieswhichwillrepaystudywithadeeperinsightintothemysteriesoflifethanwehavedreamedofhitherto。Ioftenwonderwhethertherearenotheart-wavesandsoul-wavesaswellas\'brain-waves，\'whichsomehavealreadyrecognized。”
Euthymiawondered，aswellshemight，tohearthisyoungwomantalkingthelanguageofsciencelikeanadept。Thetruthis，Luridawasoneofthosepersonswhoneverareyoung，andwho，bywayofcompensation，willneverbeold。Theyarefoundinbothsexes。Twowell-knowngraduatesofoneofourgreatuniversitiesarelivingexamplesofthisprecociousbutenduringintellectualdevelopment。
Ifthereadersofthisnarrativecannotpickthemout，theyneednotexpectthewriterofittohelpthem。Iftheyguessrightlywhotheyare，theywillrecognizethefactthatjustsuchexceptionalindividualsastheyoungwomanwearedealingwitharemetwithfromtimetotimeinfamilieswhereintelligencehasbeencumulativefortwoorthreegenerations。
Euthymiawasverywillingthatthequestioningandquestionablevisitorshouldlearnallthatwasknowninthevillageaboutthenebulousindividualwhosemistyenvironmentalltheeyesinthevillageweretryingtopenetrate，butthatheshouldlearnitfromsomeotherinformantthanLurida。
Thenextmorning，astheInterviewertookhisseatonabenchoutsidehisdoor，tosmokehisafter-breakfastcigar，abright-lookingandhandsomeyouth，whosefeaturesrecalledthoseofEuthymiasostrikinglythatonemightfeelprettysurehewasherbrother，tookaseatbyhisside。Presentlythetwowereengagedinconversation。
TheIntervieweraskedallsortsofquestionsabouteverybodyinthevillage。WhenhecametoinquireaboutMaurice，theyouthshowedaremarkableinterestregardinghim。Thegreatestcuriosity，hesaid，existedwithreferencetothispersonage。Everybodywastryingtofindoutwhathisstorywas，——forastory，andastrangeone，hemustsurelyhave，——andnobodyhadsucceeded。
TheInterviewerbegantobeunusuallyattentive。Theyoungmantoldhimthevariousantipathystories，abouttheevil-eyehypothesis，abouthishorse-tamingexploits，hisrescuingthestudentwhoseboatwasoverturned，andeveryoccurrencehecouldrecallwhichwouldhelpouttheeffectofhisnarrative。
TheInterviewerwasbecomingexcited。\"Can\'tfindoutanythingabouthim，yousaid，didn-\'tyou？Howdoyouknowthere\'sanythingtofind？DoyouwanttoknowwhatIthinkheis？I\'lltellyou。I
thinkheisanactor，——afellowfromoneofthecitytheatres。Thosefellowsgooffintheirsummervacation，andliketopuzzlethecountryfolks。Theyaretheverysamechaps，likeasnot，thevisitorshaveseeninplaysatthecitytheatres；butofcoursetheydon\'tknow\'eminplainclothes。KingsandEmperorslookprettyshabbyoffthestagesometimes，Icantellyou。”
TheyoungmanfollowedtheInterviewer\'slead。\"Ishouldn\'twonderifyouwereright，\"hesaid。\"IrememberseeingayoungfellowinRomeothatlookedagooddeallikethisone。ButInevermettheSphinx，astheycallhim，facetoface。Heisasshyasawoodchuck。
Ibelievetherearepeopleherethatwouldgiveahundreddollarstofindoutwhoheis，andwherehecamefrom，andwhatheisherefor，andwhyhedoesn\'tactlikeotherfolks。Iwonderwhysomeofthosenewspapermendon\'tcomeuphereandgetholdofthisstory。Itwouldbejustthethingforasensationalwriter。”
ToallthistheInterviewerlistenedwithtrueprofessionalinterest。
Alwaysonthelookoutforsomethingtomakeupaparagraphoracolumnabout；drivenoftentimestothestalestofrepetitions，——tothebiggestpumpkinstory，thetallcornstalk，thefatox，thelivefrogfromthehumanstomachstory，thethirdsetofteethandreadingwithoutspectaclesatninetystory，andtherestofthemarvellouscommonplaceswhicharekeptintypewitheoyore6meveryotheryearoreverysixmonthsatthefoot；alwaysinwantofafreshincident，anewstory，anundescribedcharacter，anunexplainedmystery，itisnowonderthattheInterviewerfastenedeagerlyuponthismosttemptingsubjectforaninventiveandemotionalcorrespondent。
HehadseenPaoloseveraltimes，andknewthathewasMaurice\'sconfidentialservant，buthadneverspokentohim。SohesaidtohimselfthathemustmakePaolo\'sacquaintance，tobeginwith。InthesummerseasonmanykindsofsmalltrafficwerealwayscarriedoninArrowheadVillage。Amongtherest，thesellersoffruits——
oranges，bananas，andothers，accordingtotheseasons——didanactivebusiness。TheInterviewerwatchedoneofthesefruit-sellers，andsawthathishand-cartstoppedoppositethehousewhere，asheknew，MauriceKirkwoodwasliving。PresentlyPaolocameoutofthedoor，andbeganexaminingthecontentsofthehand-cart。TheInterviewersawhisopportunity。Herewasanintroductiontotheman，andthemanmustintroducehimtothemaster。
Heknewverywellhowtoingratiatehimselfwiththeman，——therewasnodifficultyaboutthat。Hehadlearnedhisname，andthathewasanItalianwhomMauricehadbroughttothiscountrywithhim。
\"Goodmorning，Mr。Paul，\"hesaid。\"Howdoyoulikethelookoftheseoranges？\"
\"Theyprettyfair，\"saidPaolo:\"nosogoodasthemlas\'week；nosweetasthemwas。”
\"Why，howdoyouknowwithouttastingthem？\"saidtheInterviewer。
\"Iknowbyhislook，——Iknowbyhissmell，——henogoodyaller，——henosmellripe，——Iknoworangeeversincemyheadnobiggerthanheis，\"
andPaololaughedathisowncomparison。
TheInterviewerlaughedlouderthanPaolo。
\"Good!\"saidhe，——\"first-rate!Ofcourseyouknowallabout\'em。
Whycan\'tyoupickmeoutacoupleofwhatyouthinkarethebestof\'em？Ishallbegreatlyobligedtoyou。Ihaveasickfriend，andI
wanttogettwonicesweetonesforhim。”
Paolowaspleased。Hisskillandjudgmentwererecognized。Hefeltgratefultothestranger，whohadgivenhim，anopportunityofconferringafavor。Heselectedtwo，aftercarefulexaminationandgravedeliberation。TheInterviewerhadsenseandtactenoughnottoofferhimanorange，andsoshiftthebalanceofobligation。
\"HowisMr。Kirkwood，to-day？\"heasked。
\"Signor？Heverywell。Healwayswell。Whyyouask？Anybodytellyouhesick？\"
\"No，nobodysaidhewassick。Ihaven\'tseenhimgoingaboutforadayortwo，andIthoughtbemighthavesomethingthematterwithhim。Isheinthehousenow？\"
\"No:heoffriding。Hetakelong，longrides，sometimegoneallday。
Sometimehegoonlake，paddle，paddleinthemorning，very，veryearly，——innightwhenthemoonshine；sometimestayinhouse，andread，andstudy，andwrite，——hegreatscholar，MisserKirkwood。”
\"Agoodmanybooks，hasn\'the？\"
\"Hegotwholeshelfsfullofbooks。Greatbooks，littlebooks，oldbooks，newbooks，allsortsofbooks。Hegreatscholar，Itellyou。”
\"Hasn\'thesomecuriosities，——oldfigures，oldjewelry，oldcoins，orthingsofthatsort？\"
Paololookedattheyoungmancautiously，almostsuspiciously。
\"Hedon\'tkeepnojewelsnornomoneyinhischamber。Hegotsomeoldthings，——oldjugs，oldbrassfiggers，oldmoney，suchastheyusedtohaveinoldtimes:shedon\'tpassnow。”Paolo\'sgenderswereapttobesomewhatindiscriminatelydistributed。
AluckythoughtstrucktheInterviewer。\"Iwonderifhewouldexaminesomeoldcoinsofmine？\"saidhe，inamodestlytentativemanner。
\"Ithinkheliketoseeanythingcurious。WhenhecomehomeIaskhim。WhowillItellhimwantstoaskhimaboutoldcoin？\"
\"TellhimagentlemanvisitingArrowheadVillagewouldliketocallandshowhimsomeoldpiecesofmoney，saidtobeRomanones。”
TheInterviewerhadjustrememberedthathehadtwoorthreeoldbatteredbitsofcopperwhichhehadpickedupatatollman\'s，wheretheyhadbeenpassedoffforcents。Hehadboughtthemascuriosities。OnehadthenameofGallienusuponit，tolerablydistinct，——acommonlittleRomanpenny；butitwouldservehispurposeofaskingaquestion，aswouldtwoorthreeotherswithlesslegiblelegends。PaolotoldhimthatifhecamethenextmorninghewouldstandafairchanceofseeingMr。Kirkwood。Atanyrate，hewouldspeaktohismaster。
TheInterviewerpresentedhimselfthenextmorning，afterfinishinghisbreakfastandhiscigar，feelingreasonablysureoffindingMr。
Kirkwoodathome，asheprovedtobe。HehadtoldPaolotoshowthestrangeruptohislibrary，——orstudy，ashemodestlycalledit。
Itwasapleasantroomenough，withalookoutonthelakeinonedirection，andthewoodedhillinanother。Thetenanthadfitteditupinscholarlyfashion。ThebooksPaolospokeofwereconspicuous，manyofthem，bytheirwhitevellumbindingandtastefulgilding，showingthatprobablytheyhadbeenboundinRome，orsomeotherItaliancity。Withthesewereoldervolumesintheirdarkoriginalleather，andrecentonesinclothorpaper。AstheInterviewerranhiseyeoverthem，hefoundthathecouldmakeverylittleoutofwhattheirbackstaughthim。Someofthepaper-coveredbooks，someofthecloth-coveredones，hadnameswhichheknew；butthoseonthebacksofmanyoftheotherswerestrangetohiseyes。TheclassicsofGreekandLatinandItalianliteraturewerethere；andhesawenoughtofeelconvincedthathehadbetternotattempttodisplayhiseruditioninthecompanyofthisyoungscholar。