The simplest of all things it is to write in a lady's album. But Cui Bono? Is there such a dearth of printed reading, that the monkish times must be revived, and ladies books be in manuscript? What could Pierre write of his own on Love or any thing else, that would surpass what divine Hafiz wrote so many long centuries ago? Was there not Anacreon too, and Catullus, and Ovid--all translated, and readily accessible? And then--bless all their souls!--had the dear creatures forgotten Tom Moore? But the handwriting, Pierre,--they want the sight of your hand. Well, thought Pierre, actual feeling is better than transmitted sight, any day. I will give them the actual feeling of my hand, as much as they want. And lips are still better than hands. Let them send their sweet faces to me, and I will kiss _lipographs_ upon them forever and a day. This was a felicitous idea. He called Dates, and had the albums carried down by the basket-full into the dining-room. He opened and spread them all out upon the extension-table there; then, modeling himself by the Pope, when His Holiness collectively blesses long crates of rosaries--he waved one devout kiss to the albums; and summoning three servants sent the albums all home, with his best compliments, accompanied with a confectioner's _kiss_ for each album, rolled up in the most ethereal tissue. From various quarters of the land, both town and country, and especially during the preliminary season of autumn, Pierre received various pressing invitations to lecture before Lyceums, Young Men's Associations, and other Literary and Scientific Societies. The letters conveying these invitations possessed quite an imposing and most flattering aspect to the unsophisticated Pierre. One was as follows:-- "_Urquhartian Club for the Immediate Extension of the Limits of all Knowledge, both Human and Divine._ "ZADOCKPRATTSVILLE, "_June 11th, 18--_. "_Author of the 'Tropical Summer,' &c._ "HONORED AND DEAR SIR:-- "Official duty and private inclination in this present case most delightfully blend. What was the ardent desire of my heart, has now by the action of the _Committee on Lectures_ become professionally obligatory upon me. As Chairman of our _Committee on Lectures_, I hereby beg the privilege of entreating that you will honor this Society by lecturing before it on any subject you may choose, and at any day most convenient to yourself. The subject of Human Destiny we would respectfully suggest, without however at all wishing to impede you in your own unbiased selection.