The Other Side of the Wall

           Whenonelivesinarowofhouses,itisinterestingtothinkofthethingswhicharebeingdoneandsaidontheothersideofthewalloftheveryroomsoneislivingin.SarawasfondofamusingherselfbytryingtoimaginethethingshiddenbythewallwhichdividedtheSelectSeminaryfromtheIndiangentleman’shouse.SheknewthattheschoolroomwasnexttotheIndiangentleman’sstudy,andshehopedthatthewallwasthicksothatthenoisemadesometimesafterlessonhourswouldnotdisturbhim.

           "Iamgrowingquitefondofhim,"shesaidtoErmengarde;"Ishouldnotlikehimtobedisturbed.Ihaveadoptedhimforafriend.Youcandothatwithpeopleyouneverspeaktoatall.Youcanjustwatchthem,andthinkaboutthemandbesorryforthem,untiltheyseemalmostlikerelations.I’mquiteanxioussometimeswhenIseethedoctorcalltwiceaday."

           "Ihaveveryfewrelations,"saidErmengarde,reflectively,"andI’mverygladofit.Idon’tlikethoseIhave.Mytwoauntsarealwayssaying,’Dearme,Ermengarde!Youareveryfat.Youshouldn’teatsweets,’andmyuncleisalwaysaskingmethingslike,’WhendidEdwardtheThirdascendthethrone?’and,’Whodiedofasurfeitoflampreys?’"

           Saralaughed.

           "Peopleyouneverspeaktocan’taskyouquestionslikethat,"shesaid;"andI’msuretheIndiangentlemanwouldn’tevenifhewasquiteintimatewithyou.Iamfondofhim."