Asshedeparted，Mr。Dashwoodputuphisfeet，withthegracefulremark，“Poorandproud，asusual，butshe’lldo。“
　　FollowingMr。Dashwood’sdirections，andmakingMrs。Northburyhermodel，Jorashlytookaplungeintothefrothyseaofsensationalliterature，butthankstothelifepreserverthrownherbyafriend，shecameupagainnotmuchtheworseforherducking。
　　Likemostyoungscribblers，shewentabroadforhercharactersandscenery，andbanditti，counts，gypsies，nuns，andduchessesappeareduponherstage，andplayedtheirpartswithasmuchaccuracyandspiritascouldbeexpected。Herreaderswerenotparticularaboutsuchtriflesasgrammar，punctuation，andprobability，andMr。Dashwoodgraciouslypermittedhertofillhiscolumnsatthelowestprices，notthinkingitnecessarytotellherthattherealcauseofhishospitalitywasthefactthatoneofhishacks，onbeingofferedhigherwages，hadbaselylefthiminthelurch。
　　Shesoonbecameinterestedinherwork，forheremaciatedpursegrewstout，andthelittlehoardshewasmakingtotakeBethtothemountainsnextsummergrewslowlybutsurelyastheweekspassed。Onethingdisturbedhersatisfaction，andthatwasthatshedidnottellthemathome。ShehadafeelingthatFatherandMotherwouldnotapprove，andpreferredtohaveherownwayfirst，andbegpardonafterward。Itwaseasytokeephersecret，fornonameappearedwithherstories。Mr。
　　Dashwoodhadofcoursefounditoutverysoon，butpromisedtobedumb，andforawonderkepthisword。
　　Shethoughtitwoulddohernoharm，forshesincerelymeanttowritenothingofwhichshewouldbeashamed，andquietedallpricksofconsciencebyanticipationsofthehappyminutewhensheshouldshowherearningsandlaughoverherwell-keptsecret。
　　ButMr。Dashwoodrejectedanybutthrillingtales，andasthrillscouldnotbeproducedexceptbyharrowingupthesoulsofthereaders，historyandromance，landandsea，scienceandart，policerecordsandlunaticasylums，hadtoberansackedforthepurpose。Josoonfoundthatherinnocentexperiencehadgivenherbutfewglimpsesofthetragicworldwhichunderliessociety，soregardingitinabusinesslight，shesetaboutsupplyingherdeficiencieswithcharacteristicenergy。
　　Eagertofindmaterialforstories，andbentonmakingthemoriginalinplot，ifnotmasterlyinexecution，shesearchednewspapersforaccidents，incidents，andcrimes。Sheexcitedthesuspicionsofpubliclibrariansbyaskingforworksonpoisons。Shestudiedfacesinthestreet，andcharacters，good，bad，andindifferent，allabouther。Shedelvedinthedustofancienttimesforfactsorfictionssooldthattheywereasgoodasnew，andintroducedherselftofolly，sin，andmisery，aswellasherlimitedopportunitiesallowed。Shethoughtshewasprosperingfinely，butunconsciouslyshewasbeginningtodesecratesomeofthewomanliestattributesofawoman’scharacter。Shewaslivinginbadsociety，andimaginarythoughitwas，itsinfluenceaffectedher，forshewasfeedingheartandfancyondangerousandunsubstantialfood，andwasfastbrushingtheinnocentbloomfromhernaturebyaprematureacquaintancewiththedarkersideoflife，whichcomessoonenoughtoallofus。
　　Shewasbeginningtofeelratherthanseethis，formuchdescribingofotherpeople’spassionsandfeelingssethertostudyingandspeculatingaboutherown。amorbidamusementinwhichhealthyyoungmindsdonotvoluntarilyindulge。
　　Wrongdoingalwaysbringsitsownpunishment，andwhenJomostneededhers，shegotit。
　　Idon’tknowwhetherthestudyofShakespearehelpedhertoreadcharacter，orthenaturalinstinctofawomanforwhatwashonest，brave，andstrong，butwhileendowingherimaginaryheroeswitheveryperfectionunderthesun，Jowasdiscoveringalivehero，whointerestedherinspiteofmanyhumanimperfections。
　　Mr。Bhaer，inoneoftheirconversations，hadadvisedhertostudysimple，true，andlovelycharacters，wherevershefoundthem，asgoodtrainingforawriter。Jotookhimathisword，forshecoollyturnedroundandstudiedhim——aproceedingwhichwouldhavemuchsurprisedhim，hadheknowit，fortheworthyProfessorwasveryhumbleinhisownconceit。
　　WhyeverybodylikedhimwaswhatpuzzledJo，atfirst。Hewasneitherrichnorgreat，youngnorhandsome，innorespectwhatiscalledfascinating，imposing，orbrilliant，andyethewasasattractiveasagenialfire，andpeopleseemedtogatherabouthimasnaturallyasaboutawarmhearth。Hewaspoor，yetalwaysappearedtobegivingsomethingaway；astranger，yeteveryonewashisfriend；nolongeryoung，butashappy-heartedasaboy；plainandpeculiar，yethisfacelookedbeautifultomany，andhisodditieswerefreelyforgivenforhissake。Jooftenwatchedhim，tryingtodiscoverthecharm，andatlastdecidedthatitwasbenevolencewhichworkedthemiracle。Ifhehadanysorrow，`itsatwithitsheadunderitswing’，andheturnedonlyhissunnysidetotheworld。Therewerelinesuponhisforehead，butTimeseemedtohavetouchedhimgently，rememberinghowkindhewastoothers。Thepleasantcurvesabouthismouthwerethememorialsofmanyfriendlywordsandcheerylaughs，hiseyeswerenevercoldorhard，andhisbighandhadawarm，stronggraspthatwasmoreexpressivethanwords。
　　Hisveryclothesseemedtopartakeofthehospitablenatureofthewearer。Theylookedasiftheywereatease，andlikedtomakehimcomfortable。Hiscapaciouswaistcoatwassugges-
　　tiveofalargeheartunderneath。Hisrustycoathadasocialair，andthebaggypocketsplainlyprovedthatlittlehandsoftenwentinemptyandcameoutfull。Hisverybootswerebenevolent，andhiscollarsneverstiffandraspylikeotherpeople’s。
　　“That’sit!“saidJotoherself，whensheatlengthdiscoveredthatgenuinegoodwilltowardone’sfellowmencouldbeautifyanddignifyevenastoutGermanteacher，whoshoveledinhisdinner，darnedhisownsocks，andwasburdenedwiththenameofBhaer。
　　Jovaluedgoodnesshighly，butshealsopossessedamostfemininerespectforintellect，andalittlediscoverywhichshemadeabouttheProfessoraddedmuchtoherregardforhim。
　　Heneverspokeofhimself，andnooneeverknewthatinhisnativecityhehadbeenamanmuchhonoredandesteemedforlearningandintegrity，tillacountrymancametoseehim。
　　Heneverspokeofhimself，andinaconversationwithMissNortondivulgedthepleasingfact。FromherJolearnedit，andlikeditallthebetterbecauseMr。Bhaerhadnevertoldit。ShefeltproudtoknowthathewasanhonoredProfessorinBerlin，thoughonlyapoorlanguage-masterinAmerica，andhishomely，hard-workinglifewasmuchbeautifiedbythespiceofromancewhichthisdiscoverygaveit。
　　Anotherandabettergiftthanintellectwasshownherinamostunexpectedmanner。MissNortonhadtheentreeintomostsociety，whichJowouldhavehadnochanceofseeingbutforher。Thesolitarywomanfeltaninterestintheambitiousgirl，andkindlyconferredmanyfavorsofthissortbothonJoandtheProfessor。Shetookthemwithheronenighttoaselectsymposium，heldinhonorofseveralcelebrities。
　　Jowentpreparedtobowdownandadorethemightyoneswhomshehadworshipedwithyouthfulenthusiasmafaroff。Butherreverenceforgeniusreceivedasevereshockthatnight，andittookhersometimetorecoverfromthediscoverythatthegreatcreatureswereonlymenandwomenafterall。Imagineherdismay，onstealingaglanceoftimidadmirationatthepoetwhoselinessuggestedanetherealbeingfedon`spirit，fire，anddew’，tobeholdhimdevouringhissupperwithanardorwhichflushedhisintellectualcountenance。Turningasfromafallenidol，shemadeotherdiscoverieswhichrapidlydispelledherromanticillusions。Thegreatnovelistvibratedbetweentwodecanterswiththeregularityofapendulum；
　　thefamousdivineflirtedopenlywithoneoftheMadamedeStaelsoftheage，wholookeddaggersatanotherCorinne，whowasamiablysatirizingher，afteroutmaneuveringherineffortstoabsorbtheprofoundphilosopher，whoimbibedteaJohnsonianlyandappearedtoslumber，theloquacityoftheladyrenderingspeechimpossible。Thescientificcelebrities，forgettingtheirmollusksandglacialperiods，gossipedaboutart，whiledevotingthemselvestooystersandiceswithcharacteristicenergy；theyoungmusician，whowascharmingthecitylikeasecondOrpheus，talkedhorses；andthespecimenoftheBritishnobilitypresenthappenedtobethemostordinarymanoftheparty。
　　Beforetheeveningwashalfover，Jofeltsocompletelydisillusioned，thatshesatdowninacornertorecoverherself。
　　Mr。Bhaersoonjoinedher，lookingratheroutofhiselement，andpresentlyseveralofthephilosophers，eachmountedonhishobby，cameamblinguptoholdanintellectualtournamentintherecess。TheconversationsweremilesbeyondJo’scomprehension，butsheenjoyedit，thoughKantandHegelwereunknowngods，theSubjectiveandObjectiveunintelligibleterms，andtheonlything`evolvedfromherinnerconsciousness’wasabadheadacheafteritwasallover。Itdawneduponhergraduallythattheworldwasbeingpickedtopieces，andputtogetheronnewand，accordingtothetalkers，oninfinitelybetterprinciplesthanbefore，thatreligionwasinafairwaytobereasonedintonothingness，andintellectwastobetheonlyGod。Joknewnothingaboutphilosophyormetaphysicsofanysort，butacuriousexcitement，halfpleasurable，halfpainful，cameoverherasshelistenedwithasenseofbeingturnedadriftintotimeandspace，likeayoungballoonoutonaholiday。
　　ShelookedroundtoseehowtheProfessorlikedit，andfoundhimlookingatherwiththegrimestexpressionshehadeverseenhimwear。Heshookhisheadandbeckonedhertocomeaway，butshewasfascinatedjustthenbythefreedomofSpeculativePhilosophy，andkeptherseat，tryingtofindoutwhatthewisegentlemenintendedtorelyuponaftertheyhadannihilatedalltheoldbeliefs。
　　Now，Mr。Bhaerwasadiffidentmanandslowtoofferhisownopinions，notbecausetheywereunsettled，buttoosincereandearnesttobelightlyspoken。AsheglancedfromJotoseveralotheryoungpeople，attractedbythebrilliancyofthephilosophicpyrotechnics，heknithisbrowsandlongedtospeak，fearingthatsomeinflammableyoungsoulwouldbeledastraybytherockets，tofindwhenthedisplaywasoverthattheyhadonlyanemptystickorascorchedhand。
　　Heboreitaslongashecould，butwhenhewasappealedtoforanopinion，heblazedupwithhonestindignationanddefendedreligionwithalltheeloquenceoftruth——aneloquencewhichmadehisbrokenEnglishmusicalandhisplainfacebeautiful。Hehadahardfight，forthewisemenarguedwell，buthedidn’tknowwhenhewasbeatenandstoodtohiscolorslikeaman。Somehow，ashetalked，theworldgotrightagaintoJo。Theoldbeliefs，thathadlastedsolong，seemedbetterthanthenew。Godwasnotablindforce，andimmortalitywasnotaprettyfable，butablessedfact。Shefeltasifshehadsolidgroundunderherfeetagain，andwhenMr。Bhaerpaused，outtalkedbutnotonewhitconvinced，Jowantedtoclapherhandsandthankhim。
　　Shedidneither，butsherememberedthescene，andgavetheProfessorherheartiestrespect，forsheknewitcosthimanefforttospeakoutthenandthere，becausehisconsciencewouldnotlethimbesilent。Shebegantoseethatcharacterisabetterpossessionthanmoney，rank，intellect，orbeauty，andtofeelthatifgreatnessiswhatawisemanhasdefinedittobe，`truth，reverence，andgoodwill’，thenherfriendfriedrichBhaerwasnotonlygood，butgreat。
　　Thisbeliefstrengtheneddaily。Shevaluedhisesteem，shecovetedhisrespect，shewantedtobeworthyofhisfriendship，andjustwhenthewishwassincerest，shecameneartolosingeverything。Itallgrewoutofacockedhat，foroneeveningtheProfessorcameintogiveJoherlessonwithapapersoldiercaponhishead，whichTinahadputthereandhehadforgottentotakeoff。
　　“It’sevidenthedoesn’tlookinhisglassbeforecomingdown，“thoughtJo，withasmile，ashesaid“Gootefening，“
　　andsatsoberlydown，quiteunconsciousoftheludicrouscontrastbetweenhissubjectandhisheadgear，forhewasgoingtoreadhertheDeathofWallenstein。
　　Shesaidnothingatfirst，forshelikedtohearhimlaughouthisbig，heartylaughwhenanythingfunnyhappened，soshelefthimtodiscoveritforhimself，andpresentlyforgotallaboutit，fortohearaGermanreadSchillerisratheranabsorbingoccupation。Afterthereadingcamethelesson，whichwasalivelyone，forJowasinagaymoodthatnight，andthecockedhatkepthereyesdancingwithmerriment。TheProfessordidn’tknowwhattomakeofher，andstoppedatlasttoaskwithanairofmildsurprisethatwasirresistible……
　　“MeesMarsch，forwhatdoyoulaughinyourmaster’sface？
　　Hafyounorespectforme，thatyougoonsobad？“
　　“HowcanIberespectful，Sir，whenyouforgettotakeyourhatoff？“saidJo。
　　Liftinghishandtohishead，theabsent-mindedProfessorgravelyfeltandremovedthelittlecockedhat，lookedatitaminute，andthenthrewbackhisheadandlaughedlikeamerrybassviol。
　　“Ah!Iseehimnow，itisthatimpTinawhomakesmeafoolwithmycap。Well，itisnothing，butseeyou，ifthislessongoesnotwell，youtooshallwearhim。“
　　ButthelessondidnotgoatallforafewminutesbecauseMr。Bhaercaughtsightofapictureonthehat，andunfoldingit，saidwithgreatdisgust，“Iwishthesepapersdidnotcomeinthehouse。
　　Theyarenotforchildrentosee，noryoungpeopletoread。
　　Itisnotwell，andIhafnopatiencewiththosewhomakethisharm。“
　　Joglancedatthesheetandsawapleasingillustrationcomposedofalunatic，acorpse，avillian，andaviper。Shedidnotlikeit，buttheimpulsethatmadeherturnitoverwasnotoneofdispleasurebutfear，becauseforaminuteshefanciedthepaperwastheVolcano。Itwasnot，however，andherpanicsubsidedassherememberedthatevenifithadbeenandoneofherowntalesinit，therewouldhavebeennonametobetrayher。Shehadbetrayedherself，however，byalookandablush，forthoughanabsentman，theProfessorsawagooddealmorethanpeoplefancied。HeknewthatJowrote，andhadmetherdownamongthenewspaperofficesmorethanonce，butassheneverspokeofit，heaskednoquestionsinspiteofastrongdesiretoseeherwork。Nowitoccurredtohimthatshewasdoingwhatshewasashamedtoown，andittroubledhim。Hedidnotsaytohimself，“Itisnoneofmybusiness。I’venorighttosayanything，“asmanypeoplewouldhavedone。Heonlyrememberedthatshewasyoungandpoor，agirlfarawayfrommother’sloveandfather’scare，andhewasmovedtohelpherwithanimpulseasquickandnaturalasthatwhichwouldprompthimtoputouthishandtosaveababyfromapuddle。Allthisflashedthroughhismindinaminute，butnotatraceofitappearedinhisface，andbythetimethepaperwasturned，andJo’sneedlethreaded，hewasreadytosayquitenaturally，butverygravely……
　　“Yes，youarerighttoputitfromyou。Idonotthinkthatgoodyounggirlsshouldseesuchthings。Theyaremadepleasanttosome，butIwouldmorerathergivemyboysgunpowdertoplaywiththanthisbadtrash。“
　　“Allmaynotbebad，onlysilly，youknow，andifthereisademandforit，Idon’tseeanyharminsupplyingit。
　　Manyveryrespectablepeoplemakeanhonestlivingoutofwhatarecalledsensationstories，“saidJo，scratchinggatherssoenergeticallythatarowoflittleslitsfollowedherpin。
　　“Thereisademandforwhisky，butIthinkyouandIdonotcaretosellit。Iftherespectablepeopleknewwhatharmtheydid，theywouldnotfeelthatthelivingwashonest。Theyhafnorighttoputpoisoninthesugarplum，andletthesmalloneseatit。No，theyshouldthinkalittle，andsweepmudinthestreetbeforetheydothisthing。“