294 THE BIRD WATCHER 
The same spiritual g@#dth, or rather narrowness, issues 
in the same strivings and longings, whilst unity of 
ideas and experience makes mutual sympathy an easy 
matter. So they sit cosily by the fire in their little 
cabins, drawn close together against the cold, and, as 
they turn to speak, see their own thoughts in each 
other’s eyes, read their own words, before they speak 
them, on each other’s lips. Every life-memory, every 
life-experience, is a common possession, and with a 
tone, a look, a gesture, a silent motion, as much of 
joy, sorrow, or reflection is aroused in their bosoms 
as we can bring about through long expositions and 
spluttering declamations. For we live, in great part, 
mentally alone. Owing to different lines of education, 
to a different choice of reading—often accidentally 
stumbled on—difference, rather than sameness, of 
character has been developed amongst us. Each one 
of us, with masked spirit, thinks, feels, and strives in 
a lonely atmosphere of his own, and miscompre- 
hensions are so many, and at-oneness, even in one 
household, is so rare, and we are everywhere cramped, 
everywhere repulsed, and everywhere strangers to 
each other.” 
This is just my idea, and though I had read Heine 
before I watched guillemots, I yet believe that my 
watching them has suggested it to me quite independ- 
ently, for the passage quoted never came into my 
head till afterwards. Let us not, therefore, be too 
proud, for though there may, here and there among 
us, be a philosopher who feels himself able to sym- 
