BeautyofFormandBeautyofMindbyHansChristianAndersen（1860）theREwasonceasculptor，namedAlfred，whohavingwonthelargegoldmedalandobtainedatravellingscholarship，wenttoItaly，andthencamebacktohisnativeland.Hewasyoungatthattime-indeed，heisyoungstill，althoughheistenyearsolderthanhewasthen.Onhisreturn，hewenttovisitoneofthelittletownsintheislandofZealand.Thewholetownknewwhothestrangerwas；andoneoftherichestmenintheplacegaveapartyinhishonor，andallwhowereofanyconsequence，orwhopossessedsomeproperty，wereinvited.Itwasquiteanevent，andallthetownknewofit，sothatitwasnotnecessarytoannounceitbybeatofdrum.Apprentice-boys，childrenofthepoor，andeventhepoorpeoplethemselves，stoodbeforethehouse，watchingthelightedwindows；andthewatchmanmighteasilyfancyhewasgivingapartyalso，thereweresomanypeopleinthestreets.Therewasquiteanairoffestivityaboutit，andthehousewasfullofit；forMr.Alfred，thesculptor，wasthere.Hetalkedandtoldanecdotes，andeveryonelistenedtohimwithpleasure，notunmingledwithawe；butnonefeltsomuchrespectforhimasdidtheelderlywidowofanavalofficer.Sheseemed，sofarasMr.Alfredwasconcerned，tobelikeapieceoffreshblotting-paperthatabsorbedallhesaidandaskedformore.Shewasveryappreciative，andincrediblyignorantakindoffemaleGasparHauser.“IshouldliketoseeRome，”shesaid； “itmustbealovelycity，orsomanyforeignerswouldnotbeconstantlyarrivingthere.Now，dogivemeadescriptionofRome.Howdoesthecitylookwhenyouenterinatthegate？”“Icannotverywelldescribeit，”saidthesculptor； “butyouenteronalargeopenspace，inthecentreofwhichstandsanobelisk，whichisathousandyearsold.”“Anorganist！”exclaimedthelady，whohadneverheardthewordobelisk.Severaloftheguestscouldscarcelyforbearlaughing，andthesculptorwouldhavehadsomedifficultyinkeepinghiscountenance，butthesmileonhislipsfadedaway；forhecaughtsightofapairofdark-blueeyesclosebythesideoftheinquisitivelady.Theybelongedtoherdaughter；andsurelynoonewhohadsuchadaughtercouldbesilly.Themotherwaslikeafountainofquestions；andthedaughter，wholistenedbutneverspoke，mighthavepassedforthebeautifulmaidofthefountain.Howcharmingshewas！Shewasastudyforthesculptortocontemplate，butnottoconversewith；forshedidnotspeak，or，atleast，veryseldom.“HasthepopeaGREatfamily？”inquiredthelady.theyoungmanansweredconsiderately，asifthequestionhadbeenadifferentone， “No；hedoesnotcomefromaGREatfamily.”“ThatisnotwhatIasked，”persistedthewidow； “Imean，hasheawifeandchildren？”“thepopeisnotallowedtomarry，”repliedthegentleman.“Idontlikethat，”wastheladysremark.Shecertainlymighthaveaskedmoresensiblequestions；butifshehadnotbeenallowedtosayjustwhatsheliked，wouldherdaughterhavebeenthere，leaningsogracefullyonhershoulder，andlookingstraightbeforeher，withasmilethatwasalmostmournfulonherface？Mr.AlfredagainspokeofItaly，andofthegloriouscolorsinItalianscenery；thepurplehills，thedeepblueoftheMediterranean，theazureofsouthernskies，whosebrightnessandglorycouldonlybesurpassedinthenorthbythedeep-blueeyesofamaiden；andhesaidthiswithapeculiarintonation；butshewhoshouldhaveunderstoodhismeaninglookedquiteunconsciousofit，whichalsowascharming.“BeautifulItaly！”sighedsomeoftheguests.“Oh，totravelthere！”exclaimedothers.“Charming！Charming！”echoedfromeveryvoice.“Imayperhapswinahundredthousanddollarsinthelottery，”saidthenavalofficerswidow； “andifIdo，wewilltravelIandmydaughter；andyou，Mr.Alfred，mustbeourguide.Wecanallthreetraveltogether，withoneortwomoreofourgoodfriends.”Andshenoddedinsuchafriendlywayatthecompany，thateachimaginedhimselftobethefavoredpersonwhowastoaccompanythemtoItaly. “Yes，wemustgo，”shecontinued； “butnottothosepartswheretherearerobbers.WewillkeeptoRome.Inthepublicroadsoneisalwayssafe.”thedaughtersighedverygently；andhowmuchtheremaybeinasigh，orattributedtoit！TheyoungmanattributedaGREatdealofmeaningtothissigh.Thosedeep-blueeyes，whichhadbeenlitupthiseveninginhonorofhim，mustconcealtreasures，treasuresofheartandmind，richerthanallthegloriesofRome；andsowhenheleftthepartythatnight，hehadlostitcompletelytotheyounglady.ThehouseofthenavalofficerswidowwastheonemostconstantlyvisitedbyMr.Alfred，thesculptor.Itwassoonunderstoodthathisvisitswerenotintendedforthatlady，thoughtheywerethepersonswhokeptuptheconversation.Hecameforthesakeofthedaughter