between us; and so if we write often, our letters will be crossing.
Four or five days is time enough for us to change our moods a dozen
times, so our correspondence will be apt to be complicated!

III

MY DEAREST THYRSIS:

It has worried me somewhat to-day that you might be utterly
disappointed in the letter I wrote you. It was a wild jumble of
words, but I was fighting all sorts of uncomfortable things within
me. To-day I have been anything but despairing, and have "gone at"
the German. In fact, I quite lost myself in it, and believe I
understand thoroughly the construction of the first poem. Wonderful
accomplishment!

Your words, as I read them again, dear heart, are full of a great
beauty and fire and energy, and I only hope you may keep them
always. I believe that the possibility of the marriage we both
desire, depends greatly if not entirely on _your_ sternness. You
must realize it.

I cannot tell with the proper conditions and training what energy I
might be able to accumulate for myself, but in the meanwhile the
thing that makes me most wretched is my utter incapacity at times,
and my inability to share with you your work. In my weaker and more
helpless moods, I ask myself with a pang, whether I ought to go with
you at all, when I cannot help you. But I must stop fuming. I have
come out of my mudpuddle for good and for all, and that is the main
consideration. I don't intend to go back.