ou can darn it down to the last--I eat
nothing--I drink nothing--I only _work_--I never sleep--I read German
classics in bed--Lessing--and the second part of Schiller's _Faust_--I
give lessons on it before breakfast in my dressing-gown--this morning
the young ladies hung on my lips--I _know_ the lesson was a good one--It
was the Sorrows of Goethe. Last week Dr. Zerffi said--'All religions are
one and one religion is all--particularly the Brahmas.' It was splendid!
and none of the young ladies knew it before they came. But Poor Mrs.
S----! She didn't seem one bit wiser. I sent him a Valentine on the
14th--designed by the young ladies. He said 'I _knew_ where it came
from--by the word BOPP. Zis is ze only establishment in England where
the word BOPP is known.' He's a great man--and the Teutonic element
_must_ prevail. The Kelts are very charming, but they will GO. We've the
same facial angle as the Hindoo, but poor Mrs. S---- can't see it. Dr.
A---- says I must have some sleep--so I've given up Sanscrit--You can't
do everything even in bed. And it's _English_ when all's done--and Brown
speaks it as well as I do!! _Go_ to India, Julie, if ever you have the
chance, and talk to the natives--they'll understand you. They understand
me. Signor Ricci sometimes does NOT. But then he speaks the modern--the
base--Italian, and _I_--the _classic_. He said, 'I do not understand
you, Mees M----.' I said, 'E vero, Signor--I know you don't. But that's
because I speak _classic_ Italian. All the organ-boys understand me.'
And he smiled. Dear, dear! How pleasant it is to see a Gatty--but I wish
you didn't look so white--when I see other people suffer, and think of
all the years of health I've enjoyed, I never can be thankful
enough--and when I've paid my monthly bills I'm the happiest woman in
England. When I think of how much I have and how little I deserve, I
don't know what to do but say my prayers. Dear, I'm sorry I told you
that story about X----. If she sent this morning for L10 I must let her
have it, if I had to go out and borrow it. I am going out--the Dr. says
I must. In the holidays I go on the balcony--and look down into the
street--and see the four-in-hands--and the policemen--and the han(d)som
cabmen (they're most of them gentlemen--and some of them Irish
gentlemen), and I say--'Such is life!' And poor Mrs. S---- says '_Is
it_, Miss M----?' and I know I speak sharply to her, which I should _not
do_. And I go into Kensington Gard