"One must mark you men rather sharply, if one means you to take heed," cried she with a wild mirth, which soon passed into a quick assiduity. She took her handkerchief, and bound his hand with it to staunch the fast-flowing blood. "Forgive a half-crazed being," cried she, "and regret not these few drops of blood. I am appeased, I am again myself. On my knees will I crave your pardon: leave me the comfort of healing you." She ran to her drawer; brought lint, with other apparatus; staunched the blood, and viewed the wound attentively. It went across the palm, close under the thumb; dividing the life-lines, and running towards the little finger. She bound it up in silence, with a significant, reflective look. He asked once or twice: "Aurelia, how could you hurt your friend ?" "Hush!" replied she, laying her finger on her mouth: "Hush !" WILHELM MEISTER. CHAPTER I. THUS Wilhelm, to his pair of former wounds which were yet scarcely healed, had now got the accession of a third, which was fresh and not a little disagreeable. Aurelia would not suffer him to call a sur geon; she dressed the hand with all manner of strange speeches, saws, and ceremonies; and so placed him in a very painful situation. Yet not he alone, but all persons who came near her, suffered by her restlessness and singularity: and no one more than little Felix. This stirring child was exceedingly impatient under such oppression, and shewed himself still naughtier, the more she censured and instructed him. He delighted in some practices which commonly are thought bad habits, and in which she would not by any means indulge him. He would drink, for example, rather from the bottle than the glass; and his food seemed visibly to have a better relish when eaten from the bowl than from the plate. Such ill-breeding was not overlooked: if he left the door standing open, or slammed it to; if when bid do any thing, he stood stock still, or ran off violently, he was sure to have a long lecture inflicted on him for the fault. Yet he shewed no symptoms of improvement from this training on the other hand, his affection for Aurelia seemed daily to diminish; there was nothing tender in his tone when he called her Mother; whereas he passionately clung to the old nurse, who let him have his will in every thing. But she likewise had of late become so sick, that they had been at last obliged to take her from the house into a quiet lodging; and Felix would have been entirely alone, if Mignon had not, like a kindly guardian-spirit, come to help him. The two children talked together, and amused each other in the prettiest style. She taught him little songs; and he, having an excellent memory, frequently recited them to the surprise of those about him. She attempted also to explain her maps to him. With these she was still very busy, though she did not seem to take the fittest method. For, in studying countries, she appeared to care little about any other point than whether they were cold or warm. Of the north and south Poles, of the horrid ice which reigns there, and of the increasing heat the farther one retires from them, she could give a very clear account. was travelling, she merely asked When any one whether he was going northward or southward; and strove to find |