Her enthusiasm terrifies, her energy offends, and if
her taste is ever challenged, it is to the figures upon a quilt or
in a flower-garden, where the passion seems to be to make flowers
grow in stars, and hearts, and crescents. What has woman to expect
where such are the laws; where such are the expectations from her?
What am I to hope? I, who seem to be set apart--to feel nothing
like the rest--to live in a different world--to dream of foreign
things--to burn with a hope which to them is frenzy, and speak
a language which they neither understand nor like! What can I be,
in such a world? Nothing, nothing! I do not deceive myself. I can
never hope to be anything."
Her enthusiasm hurried her forward. In spite of himself, Stevens was
impressed. He ceased to think of his evil purposes in the superior
thoughts which her wild, unregulated energy inspired. He scarcely
wondered, indeed--if it were true--that her neighbors fancied
her insane. The indignation of a powerful mind denied--denied
justice--baffled in its aims--conscious of the importance of all
its struggles against binding and blinding circumstances--is akin
to insanity!--is apt to express itself in the defiant tones of a
fierce and feverish frenzy.
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