Page:Margaret Fuller Ossoli (Higginson).djvu/99

Rh body, for instance (July 8, 1837), she exulted in the “glow of returning health,” and then gave this account of the school: —

“As to the school, … I believe I do very well there. I am in it four hours every morning, five days in the week; thus you see I can have much time, notwithstanding many casual interruptions. All Saturday and Sunday to myself. I rise so early that I often get an hour and a half before breakfast, besides two or three hours in the afternoon on school days. This is quite enough for health, and the time is good time, for the school rarely tires me at all. I feel so perfectly equal to all I do there, without any effort; my pupils, although miserably prepared, are very docile, their hearts are right, and I already perceive that I am producing some effect on their heads. My plan grows quietly and easily in my mind; this experience here will be useful to me, if not to Providence, for I am bringing my opinions to the test, and thus far have reason to be satisfied.”

Her mode of life in Providence, during this period, she described in letters to her younger brother. She lived methodically, as she usually did; almost always rose at five, — it was in summer, — and sometimes at half-past four; it took her till six to dress; she studied till half-past seven, the breakfast hour; school lasted from half-past eight to half-past twelve; she got home at one, dined at half-past one; lay down till three; then wrote or studied till tea-time, probably at six; in the evening, walked or made calls till ten; this