the terms, promising a laborious future, of her resolution that he should never regret his unorthodoxy, find her way to them. And the moments as they passed gleamed too brightly with confirmation of the strange blind faith she had brought as sole preparation for the encounter, hovered with too quiet a benediction to be seized and used deliberately, without the pressure of the sudden inspiration for which they seemed to wait.
“Well, as I say, that depends entirely on yourself. You must clearly understand that I expect you to fulfil all reasonable requests whether referring to the practice or no, and moreover to fulfil them cheerfully .”
“Well, of course I have no choice. But I can’t promise to be cheerful ; that’s impossible.” An obstinate tightening of the grave face.
“I think perhaps I might manage to be serene ; generally. I can’t pretend to be cheerful.” “Assume an air of cheerfulness, and presently you will be cheerful, in spite of yourself.” Awful. To live like that would be to miss suddenly finding the hidden something that would make you cheerful forever.