In the meantime peace, discouraging, disheartening though it was, opened
up possibilities of further undisturbed study, fresh absorption in
scientific occupations.
When, after the termination of my University studies, I had to think of
earning my own living, I not only, as before, gave private lessons, but
I gave lectures, first to a circle before whom I lectured on Northern
and Greek mythology, then to another, in David's house, to whom I
unfolded the inner history of modern literature to interested listeners,
amongst them several beautiful young girls. I finally engaged myself to
my old Arithmetic master as teacher of Danish in his course for National
school-mistresses. I found the work horribly dull, but there was one
racy thing about it, namely, that I, the master, was three years younger
than the youngest of my pupils; these latter were obliged to be at least
25, and consequently even at their youngest were quite old in my eyes.
But there were many much older women amongst them, one even, a priest or
schoolmaster's widow, of over fifty, a poor thing who had to begin--at
her age!--from the very beginning, though she was anything but gifted.
It was not quite easy for a master without a single hair on his face to
make himself respected. But I succeeded, my pupils being so well-
behaved.
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