A Pessimist in Theory and Practice

uation during the first week of Hartman's visit. A good deal of wisdom was in circulation: I said some things myself which deserve to be remembered, and the oth

finer emotions, and reduce us to the monotonous level of a dull cold practicality? It is under the calm light of moon and stars that soul speaks to soul, and we gain those subtler experiences, those deeper vi

n't sit mooning there like

a train of thought which might have borne ri

rget yourself. Whos

ed husband and father of a happy and admiring family. Clarice, I was meditating on subjects of much m

ow. What did you talk abo

d of all the virtues would be about him on every hand; that a pure atmosphere of love and peace pervaded this modest mansion; that joy was unconfined; that we could lay our weary

, Robert: it is not in good tas

at right? Didn't you tell me to

arily. But di

ing about you. O, I'll talk you up to him whenever you say so; to-night, if you like. But I thought his forgetting was what you wanted. Didn't I manage it well? Do own th

you. But was it necessary

we without Imagination, that glorious gift which causes the desert to rejoice and blossom like your little flower-bed in the back yard at home? You know, Clarice, tha

s and deceptions on everybody. O, I know you mean no harm; it is merel

no sense of humor. I can't well go around saying, This is

learn to make allowances for you by and by. But you may be tempted to try your

t. Princess, you are sharper than I. Do you think I would be fool e

to stop you. How can I tell whether I can trust you? I don't b

when I die, if you will see that the autopsy is properly performed, you will

ar you have incipient s

phan like yourself; soon, if you read the future aright, to be laid beneath the cold clods of the valley. When I am sleeping under the daisies in the lonely churchyard, you will say to yourself, He was my friend, my more than brother: he loved me with a loyal and self-obliviou

ect you are afraid of. When you go off like this, I know

to be with me till you conclude to take Hartman up; we can't be quarrelling all the time, you know. He asked me about you this morning; Jane had spoken of you at breakfast. I put him off with general remarks about your being d

n't mention it yourse

d Jane come. He likes Jane. Upon my hon

othing to suspect? But men are so coarse. Well, i

aring him to meet you as well as the others, when we suddenly came on you, and you struck him deaf and dumb

ructions again, and when you have made a blunder, tell me at once. You are so light, so devoted to your frivolous amusements; you seem to be drifti

over it, now, and use a lot of endearing epithets and big professions, perhaps you would believe me. Some time you will know whether I care for you or

it and see. You can go and comfo