She spoke of his former interest in the arts, which he said he had left behind as “material manifestations.” Discussing the relation of artistic expression to constructive purpose, he said: “Art, when it is a real interpretation of life, is a high and noble thing, but the art that is merely self-expression is a disintegrating force. Too much of it is that now.” At that time, she had read none of the Lessons, and he told her of the seven purposes of construction, continuing: “To purpose of any nature only similar purpose calls, and when the call is heard there is no choice but to answer. No choice after the call has been admitted to consciousness. It may be shut out and denied, but once listened to, whether for construction or for destruction, the answer is bound to come. That is why we so insistently urge the discovery of purpose and the beauty of construction. Character, as you understand it, results from the purposes admitted to consciousness. Not always recognized, but always let in.” He had some difficulty in getting one word written, and she spoke of his erasures of wrong starts as extraordinary and unusual. “Not a bit unusual, if you think how often the words of your languages fail as convincing and accurate symbols. You often correct them yourselves. A translation may be made in any of several ways, depending on the reactions of the translator to certain symbols. So, when Margaret reacts freely, we let it stand. When she fails, wholly or in part, we correct it.” In view of later statements concerning the force used in these manifestations, I assume this to mean, not that I make the translation mentioned, but that certain symbols used in translation are sometimes difficult to convey through me. Frequently other words have been substituted for those originally begun, when there was trouble in writing them. Another explanation of these occasional difficulties of transmission was suggested afterward, first by Frederick and later more explicitly by Mary Kendal. “Do you see us visibly?” Mrs. Bruce asked. “Yes, of course. We see all you do, and more. We see motives, where you see appearance.” [Long afterward (May 26th), Mr. Kendal asked Anne Lowe whether she could see sunsets, and she replied: “No, but we see their equivalent in dawn of purpose.” [She had previously expressed approval of a room, which had been arranged with great care for one dear to her, and he asked whether she saw its physical details, or only its effects upon the minds of persons entering it, to which her answer was: “We never see material things. We see their significance.” [Similarly, Mary K. said (May 31st), “We read your thought frequently, and always perceive motive, intention, and the mental and spiritual significance of your reactions to material things, in themselves unimportant. So we say we see the thing itself, because we perceive its essential significance.”]