Gilbert Speaks

           “Thishasbeenadull,prosyday,”yawnedPhil,stretchingherselfidlyonthesofa,havingpreviouslydispossessedtwoexceedinglyindignantcats.

           AnnelookedupfromPickwickPapers.NowthatspringexaminationswereovershewastreatingherselftoDickens.

           “Ithasbeenaprosydayforus,”shesaidthoughtfully,“buttosomepeopleithasbeenawonderfulday.Someonehasbeenrapturouslyhappyinit.Perhapsagreatdeedhasbeendonesomewheretoday—oragreatpoemwritten—oragreatmanborn.Andsomehearthasbeenbroken,Phil.”

           “Whydidyouspoilyourprettythoughtbytaggingthatlastsentenceon,honey?”grumbledPhil.“Idon’tliketothinkofbrokenhearts—oranythingunpleasant.”

           “Doyouthinkyou’llbeabletoshirkunpleasantthingsallyourlife,Phil?”

           “Dearme,no.AmInotupagainstthemnow?Youdon’tcallAlecandAlonzopleasantthings,doyou,whentheysimplyplaguemylifeout?”

           “Younevertakeanythingseriously,Phil.”

           “WhyshouldI?Thereareenoughfolkswhodo.Theworldneedspeoplelikeme,Anne,justtoamuseit.ItwouldbeaterribleplaceifEVERYBODYwereintellectualandseriousandindeep,deadlyearnest.MYmissionis,asJosiahAllensays,‘tocharmandallure.’Confessnow.Hasn’tlifeatPatty’sPlacebeenreallymuchbrighterandpleasanterthispastwinterbecauseI’vebeenheretoleavenyou?”

           “Yes,ithas,”ownedAnne.

           “Andyouallloveme—evenAuntJamesina,whothinksI’mstarkmad.SowhyshouldItrytobedifferent?Oh,dear,I’msosleepy.