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as I looked and listened there could not be any mistake about it。 I
heard Quick！ Quick！ Quick！ as plainly； at least； as I ever heard a
word from the phonograph。 I stood watching the dial one day；it was
near one o'clock；and a strange attraction held me fastened to the
spot。 Presently something appeared to trip or stumble inside of the
infernal mechanism。 I waited for the sound I knew was to follow。
How nervous I got！ It seemed to me that it would never strike。 At
last the minute…hand reached the highest point of the dial。 Then
there was a little stir among the works； as there is in a
congregation as it rises to receive the benediction。 It was no form
of blessing which rung out those deep； almost sepulchral tones。 But
the word they uttered could not be mistaken。 I can hear its
prolonged； solemn vibrations as if I were standing before the clock
at this moment。
Gone！ Yes； I said to myself； gone；its record made up to be opened
in eternity。
I stood still； staring vaguely at the dial as in a trance。 And as
the next hour creeps stealthily up； it starts all at once； and cries
aloud； Gone！ Gone！ The sun sinks lower； the hour…hand creeps
downward with it； until I hear the thrice…repeated monosyllable；
Gone！ Gone！ Gone！ Soon through the darkening hours； until at the
dead of night the long roll is called； and with the last Gone！ the
latest of the long procession that filled the day follows its ghostly
companions into the stillness and darkness of the past。
I silenced the striking part of the works。 Still； the escapement
kept repeating； Quick！ Quick！ Quick！ Still the long minute…hand；
like the dart in the grasp of Death； as we see it in Roubiliac's
monument to Mrs。 Nightingale； among the tombs of Westminster Abbey；
stretched itself out； ready to transfix each hour as it passed； and
make it my last。 I sat by the clock to watch the leap from one day
of the week to the next。 Then would come； in natural order； the long
stride from one month to the following one。
I could endure it no longer。 〃Take that clock away！〃 I said。 They
took it away。 They took me away； too；they thought I needed country
air。 The sounds and motions still pursued me in imagination。 I was
very nervous when I came here。 The walks are pleasant； but the walls
seem to me unnecessarily high。 The boarders are numerous； a little
miscellaneous； I think。 But we have the Queen； and the President of
the United States； and several other distinguished persons； if we may
trust what they tell about themselves。
After we had listened to Number Five's story； I was requested to read
a couple of verses written by me when the guest of my friends； whose
name is hinted by the title prefixed to my lines。
LA MAISON D'OR。
BAR HARBOR。
》From this fair home behold on either side
The restful mountains or the restless sea：
So the warm sheltering walls of life divide
Time and its tides from still eternity。
Look on the waves： their stormy voices teach
That not on earth may toil and struggle cease。
Look on the mountains： better far than speech
Their silent promise of eternal peace。
VIII。
I had intended to devote this particular report to an account of my
replies to certain questions which have been addressed to me；
questions which I have a right to suppose interest the public； and
which； therefore； I was justified in bringing before The Teacups； and
presenting to the readers of these articles。
Some may care for one of these questions； and some for another。 A
good many young people think nothing about life as it presents itself
in the far horizon； bounded by the snowy ridges of threescore and the
dim peaks beyond that remote barrier。 Again； there are numbers of
persons who know nothing at all about the Jews； while； on the other
hand； there are those who can； or think they can； detect the
Israelitish blood in many of their acquaintances who believe
themselves of the purest Japhetic origin； and are full of prejudices
about the Semitic race。
I do not mean to be cheated out of my intentions。 I propose to
answer my questioners on the two points just referred to； but I find
myself so much interested in the personal affairs of The Teacups that
I must deal with them before attacking those less exciting subjects。
There is no use； let me say here； in addressing to me letters marked
〃personal；〃 〃private；〃 〃confidential；〃 and so forth； asking me how I
came to know what happened in certain conversations of which I shall
give a partial account。 If there is a very sensitive phonograph
lying about here and there in unsuspected corners； that might account
for some part of my revelations。 If Delilah； whose hearing is of
almost supernatural delicacy； reports to me what she overhears； it
might explain a part of the mystery。 I do not want to accuse
Delilah； but a young person who assures me she can hear my watch
ticking in my pocket； when I am in the next room； might undoubtedly
tell many secrets； if so disposed。 Number Five is pretty nearly
omniscient； and she and I are on the best terms with each other。
These are all the hints I shall give you at present。
The Teacups of whom the least has been heard at our table are the
Tutor and the Musician。 The Tutor is a modest young man； kept down a
little； I think； by the presence of older persons； like the Professor
and myself。 I have met him several times； of late； walking with
different lady Teacups： once with the American Annex； twice with the
English Annex； once with the two Annexes together； once with Number
Five。
I have mentioned the fact that the Tutor is a poet as among his
claims to our attention。 I must add that I do not think any the
worse of him for expressing his emotions and experiences in verse。
For though rhyming is often a bad sign in a young man； especially if
he is already out of his teens； there are those to whom it is as
natural； one might almost say as necessary； as it is to a young bird
to fly。 One does not care to see barnyard fowls tumbling about in
trying to use their wings。 They have a pair of good； stout
drumsticks； and had better keep to them； for the most part。 But that
feeling does not apply to young eagles； or even to young swallows and
sparrows。 The Tutor is by no means one of those ignorant； silly；
conceited phrase…tinklers； who live on the music of their own
jingling syllables and the flattery of their foolish friends。 I
think Number Five must appreciate him。 He is sincere； warmhearted；
his poetry shows that；not in haste to be famous； and he looks to me
as if he only wanted love to steady him。 With one of those two young
girls he ought certainly to be captivated； if he is not already。
Twice walking with the English Annex； I met him； and they were so
deeply absorbed in conversation they hardly noticed me。 He has been
talking over the matter with Number Five； who is just the kind of
person for a confidante。
〃I know I feel very lonely；〃 he was saying； 〃and I only wish I felt
sure that I could make another person happy。 My life would be
transfigured if I could find such a one； whom I could love well
enough to give my life to her；for her； if that were needful； and
who felt an affinity for me； if any one could。〃
〃And why not your English maiden？〃 said Number Five。
〃What makes you think I care more for her than for her American
friend？〃 said the Tutor。
〃Why； have n't I met you walking with her； and did n't you both seem
greatly interested in the subject you were discussing？ I thought； of
course； it was something more or less sentimental that you were
talking about。〃
〃I was explaining that 'enclitic de' in Browning's Grammarian's
Funeral。 I don't think there was anything very sentimental about
that。 She is an inquisitive creature； that English girl。 She is
very fond of asking me questions；in fact； both of them are。 There
is one curious difference between them： the English girl settles down
into her answers and is quiet； the American girl is never satisfied
with yesterday's conclusions； she is always reopening old questions
in the light of some new fact or some novel idea。 I suppose that
people bred from childhood to lean their backs against the wall of
the Creed and the church catechism find it hard to sit up straight on
the republican stool； which obliges them to stiffen their own backs。
Which of these two girls would be the safest choice for a young man？
I should really like to hear what answer yon would make if I
consulted you seriously； with a view to my own choice；on the
supposition that there was a fair chance that either of them might be
won。〃
〃The one you are in love with；〃 answered Number Five。
〃But what if it were a case of 'How happy could I be with either'？
Which offers the best chance of happiness；a marriage between two
persons of the same country； or a marriage wh