It is only with infinite struggle
that she LEARNS anything, though she is capable of struggle, and that
is a good deal to say; but she has besides a precious heritage of
instincts and insights, hitherto unsuspected and never drawn upon.
It is precisely as if there had been a bundle of possibilities folded
away somewhere in her brain, but hidden by an intervening veil, or
crushed by some alien weight. We seem to have drawn away that
curtain or lifted that weight, and the faculties so long obscured are
stretching themselves and growing with their new freedom. It reminds
me of the weak, stunted grass-blades under a stone. I am always
lifting it and rolling it away, sentimentally trying to give the
struggling shoots a chance. One can see for many a long day where
the stone has been, but the grass forgets it after a while, when it
breathes the air and sunshine, tastes the dew and rain, and feels the
miracle of growth within its veins.'
Another day.--'The twins are certainly improving a trifle. They are
by no means angelic, but they are at least growing human; and if ever
their tremendous energy--a very whirlwind--is once turned in the
right direction, we shall see things move, I warrant you! Rhoda says
truly that the improvement cannot be seen with the naked eye; but the
naked eye is never in use with us, in our work, nor indeed with the
Father of Lights, who teaches us all to see truly if we will.
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