heforesawthatheshouldhavetostaytheretillmorning,andthentheymustsendforasmithtofileawaytheironbars,andthatwouldbeaworkoftime.allthecharitychildrenwouldjustbegoingtoschool:andallthesailorswhoinhabitedthatquarterofthetownwouldbetheretoseehimstandinginthepillory.whatacrowdtherewouldbe."ha,"hecried,"thebloodisrushingtomyhead,andishallgomad.ibelieveiamcrazyalready;oh,iwishiwerefree,thenallthesesensationswouldpassoff."thisisjustwhatheoughttohavesaidatfirst.themomenthehadexpressedthethoughthisheadwasfree.hestartedback,quitebewilderedwiththefrightwhichthegoloshesoffortunehadcausedhim.butwemustnotsupposeitwasallover;no,indeed,therewasworsetocomeyet.thenightpassed,andthewholeofthefollowingday;butnoonesentforthegoloshes.intheeveningadeclamatoryperformancewastotakeplaceattheamateurtheatreinadistantstreet.thehousewascrowded;amongtheaudiencewastheyoungvolunteerfromthehospital,whoseemedtohavequiteforgottenhisadventuresofthepreviousevening.hehadonthegoloshes;theyhadnotbeensentfor,andasthestreetswerestillverydirty,theywereofgreatservicetohim.anewpoem,entitled"myaunt'sspectacles,"wasbeingrecited.itdescribedthesespectaclesaspossessingawonderfulpower;ifanyoneputthemoninalargeassemblythepeopleappearedlikecards,andthefutureeventsofensuingyearscouldbeeasilyforetoldbythem.theideastruckhimthatheshouldverymuchliketohavesuchapairofspectacles;for,ifusedrightly,theywouldperhapsenablehimtoseeintotheheartsofpeople,whichhethoughtwouldbemoreinterestingthantoknowwhatwasgoingtohappennextyear;forfutureeventswouldbesuretoshowthemselves,buttheheartsofpeoplenever."icanfancywhatishouldseeinthewholerowofladiesandgentlemenonthefirstseat,ificouldonlylookintotheirhearts;thatlady,iimagine,keepsastoreforthingsofalldescriptions;howmyeyeswouldwanderaboutinthatcollection;withmanyladiesishouldnodoubtfindalargemillineryestablishment.thereisanotherthatisperhapsempty,andwouldbeallthebetterforcleaningout.theremaybesomewellstoredwithgoodarticles.ah,yes,"hesighed,"iknowone,inwhicheverythingissolid,butaservantistherealready,andthatistheonlythingagainstit.idaresayfrommanyishouldhearthewords,'pleasetowalkin.'ionlywishicouldslipintotheheartslikealittletinythought."thiswasthewordofcommandforthegoloshes.thevolunteershrunkuptogether,andcommencedamostunusualjourneythroughtheheartsofthespectatorsinthefirstfirstheartheenteredwasthatofalady,buthethoughthemusthavegotintooneoftheroomsofanorthopedicinstitutionwhereplastercastsofdeformedlimbswerehangingonthewalls,withthisdifference,thatthecastsintheinstitutionareformedwhenthepatiententers,butheretheywereformedandpreservedafterthegoodpeoplehadleft.thesewerecastsofthebodilyandmentaldeformitiesofthelady'sfemalefriendscarefullypreserved.quicklyhepassedintoanotherheart,whichhadtheappearanceofaspacious,holychurch,withthewhitedoveofinnocenceflutteringoverthedlywouldhehavefallenonhiskneesinsuchasacredplace;buthewascarriedontoanotherheart,still,however,listeningtothetonesoftheorgan,andfeelinghimselfthathehadbecomeanotherandabetterman.thenextheartwasalsoasanctuary,whichhefeltalmostunworthytoenter;itrepresentedameangarret,inwhichlayasickmother;butthewarmsunshinestreamedthroughthewindow,lovelyrosesbloomedinalittleflowerboxontheroof,twobluebirdssangofchildlikejoys,andthesickmotherprayedforablessingonherdaughter.nexthecreptonhishandsandkneesthroughanoverfilledbutcher'sshop;therewasmeat,nothingbutmeat,whereverhestepped;thiswastheheartofarich,respectableman,whosenameisdoubtlessinthedirectory.thenheenteredtheheartofthisman'swife;itwasanold,tumble-downpigeon-house;thehusband'sportraitservedasaweather-cock;itwasconnectedwithallthedoors,whichopenedandshutjustasthehusband'sdecisionturned.thenextheartwasacompletecabinetofmirrors,suchascanbeseeninthecastleofrosenberg.butthesemirrorsmagnifiedinanastonishingdegree;inthemiddleofthefloorsat,likethegrandlama,theinsignificantioftheowner,astonishedatthecontemplationofhisownhisnextvisithefanciedhemusthavegotintoanarrowneedlecase,fullofsharpneedles:"oh,"thoughthe,"thismustbetheheartofanoldmaid;"butsuchwasnotthefact;itbelongedtoayoungofficer,whoworeseveralorders,andwassaidtobeamanofintellectandheart.

thepoorvolunteercameoutofthelastheartintherowquitebewildered.hecouldnotcollecthisthoughts,andimaginedhisfoolishfancieshadcarriedhimaway."goodgracious!"