Self-forgetfulness in the reaching
out after that which is essential to us is the healthiest of
mental conditions. One has to look to his way, to his deeds, to
his conduct--not to himself. In such losing of the false, or
merely reflected, we find the true self. There is no harm in
being stupid, so long as a man does not think himself clever; no
good in being clever, if a man thinks himself so, for that is a
short way to the worst stupidity. If you think yourself clever,
set yourself to do something; then you will have a chance of
humiliation."
With good faculties, and fine instincts, Letty was always
thinking she must be wrong, just because it was she was in it--a
lovely fault, no doubt, but a fault greatly impeditive to
progress, and tormenting to a teacher. She got on very fairly in
spite of it, however; and her devotion to Godfrey, as she felt
herself growing in his sight, increased almost to a passion. Do
not misunderstand me, my reader. If I say anything grows to a
passion, I mean, of course, the passion of that thing, not of
something else. Here I no more mean that her devotion became what
in novels is commonly called love, than, if I said ambition or
avarice had grown to a passion, I should mean those vices had
changed to love. Godfrey Wardour was at least ten years older
than Letty; besides him, she had not a single male relative in
this world--neither had she mother or sister on whom to let out
her heart; while of Mrs.
Pages:
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70