mthegravityofoneandthefrivolityofthenext.ShewentfromthelatestnoveltotheOrlandoFurioso,fromtheEuphuesofJohnLyly(mostentertainingandwhimsicalofbooks!)tothepassionatecorruptionofVerlaine.Withalifetimebeforeher,thelengthofbookswasnohindrance,andshestartedboldlyupontheeightvolumesoftheDeclineandFall,uponthemanytomesofSt.Simon:andsheneverhesitatedtoputthemasideafterahundredpages.
Berthafoundrealitytolerablewhenitwasmerelyabackground,afoiltothefantastichappeningsofoldbooks.Shelookedatthegreentrees,andthesongofbirdsmingledagreeablywithherthoughtsstilloccupied,perhaps,withtheDolorousKnightofLaMancha,withManonLescaut,orwiththejoyousbandthatwandersthroughtheDecameron.Withgreaterknowledgecamegreatercuriosity,andsheforsookthebroadhighroadsofliteratureforthemountainpathwaysofsomeobscurepoet,forthebridle-tracksoftheSpanishpicaroon.Shefoundunexpectedsatisfactioninthehalf-forgottenmasterpiecesofthepast,inpoetsnotquitedivinewhomfashionhadleftononeside,intheplaywrights,andnovelists,andessayists,whoseremembrancelivesonlywiththebookworm.Itisareliefsometimestolookawayfromthebrightsunofperfectachievementandthewriterswhoappealedtotheirageandnottoposterity,havebycontrastasubtlecharm.Undazzledbytheirsplendour,onemaydiscernmoreeasilytheirindividualitiesandthespiritoftheirtimetheyhavepleasantqualitiesnotalwaysfoundamongtheirbetters,andthereisevenacertainpathosintheirincompletesuccess.
InmusicalsoBerthadevelopedatasteforthehalfknown,thehalfarchaic.ItsuitedtheGeorgiandrawing-roomwithitsoldpictures,withitsChippendaleandchintz,toplaythesimplemelodiesofCouperinandRameautherondos,thegavottes,thesonatinasinpowderandpatch,whichdelightedtherococolordsandladiesofapastcentury.
Livingawayfromthepresent,inanartificialparadise,Berthawasalmostcompletelyhappy.Shefoundindifferencetothewholeworldatrustyarmour:lifewaseasywithoutloveorhate,hopeordespair,withoutambition,desireofchange,ortumultuouspassion.Sobloomtheflowersunconscious,uncaring,thebudburst