My Little Table 



outcome of grasping the law of the areas. 

 One thing makes up for another. 



During the rest of the week, I have my 

 Thursdays and the evenings, which I employ 

 In study until I drop with sleep. All told I 

 have no lack of time, despite the drudgery of 

 my college ties. The great thing Is not to be 

 discouraged by the unavoidable difficulties 

 encountered at the outset, I lose my way 

 easily in that dense forest overgrown with 

 creepers that have to be cut away with the axe 

 to obtain a clearing. A fortunate turn or 

 two; and I once more know where I am. I 

 lose my way again. The stubborn axe makes 

 its opening without always letting in suffi- 

 cient light. 



The book is just a book, that is to say, a 

 set text, saying not a word more than it is 

 obliged to, exceedingly learned, I admit, but, 

 alas, often obscure ! The author, it seems, 

 wrote it for himself. He understood; there- 

 fore others must. Poor beginners, left to 

 yourselves, you manage as best you can ! For 

 you, there shall be no retracing of steps in 

 order to tackle the difficulty in another way; 

 no circuit easing the arduous road and pre- 

 paring the passage; no supplementary aper- 

 ture to admit a glimmer of daylight. Incom- 

 313 



