He did not do much , but he thought a great deal and was conscious of a change of some sort going on in spite of himself . `` It 's genius simmering , perhaps . I 'll let it simmer , and see what comes of it , '' he said , with a secret suspicion all the while that it was n't genius , but something far more common . Whatever it was , it simmered to some purpose , for he grew more and more discontented with his desultory life , began to long for some real and earnest work to go at , soul and body , and finally came to the wise conclusion that everyone who loved music was not a composer . Returning from one of Mozart 's grand operas , splendidly performed at the Royal Theatre , he looked over his own , played a few of the best parts , sat staring at the busts of Mendelssohn , Beethoven , and Bach , who stared benignly back again . Then suddenly he tore up his music sheets , one by one , and as the last fluttered out of his hand , he said soberly to himself ... `` She is right ! Talent is n't genius , and you ca n't make it so . That music has taken the vanity out of me as Rome took it out of her , and I wo n't be a humbug any longer . Now what shall I do ? '' That seemed a hard question to answer , and Laurie began to wish he had to work for his daily bread . Now if ever , occurred an eligible opportunity for ` going to the devil ' , as he once forcibly expressed it , for he had plenty of money and nothing to do , and Satan is proverbially fond of providing employment for full and idle hands . The poor fellow had temptations enough from without and from within , but he withstood them pretty well , for much as he valued liberty , he valued good faith and confidence more , so his promise to his grandfather , and his desire to be able to look honestly into the eyes of the women who loved him , and say `` All 's well , '' kept him safe and steady . Very likely some Mrs. Grundy will observe , `` I do n't believe it , boys will be boys , young men must sow their wild oats , and women must not expect miracles . '' I dare say you do n't , Mrs. Grundy , but it 's true nevertheless . Women work a good many miracles , and I have a persuasion that they may perform even that of raising the standard of manhood by refusing to echo such sayings . Let the boys be boys , the longer the better , and let the young men sow their wild oats if they must . But mothers , sisters , and friends may help to make the crop a small one , and keep many tares from spoiling the harvest , by believing , and showing that they believe , in the possibility of loyalty to the virtues which make men manliest in good women 's eyes . If it is a feminine delusion , leave us to enjoy it while we may , for without it half the beauty and the romance of life is lost , and sorrowful forebodings would embitter all our hopes of the brave , tenderhearted little lads , who still love their mothers better than themselves and are not ashamed to own it . Laurie thought that the task of forgetting his love for Jo would absorb all his powers for years , but to his great surprise he discovered it grew easier every day . He refused to believe it at first , got angry with himself , and could n't understand it , but these hearts of ours are curious and contrary things , and time and nature work their will in spite of us .
XXXXX 's heart would n't ache .
Bach Beethoven Jo Laurie Mendelssohn Mozart Rome right tares years