Learning to Forget

           Amy’slecturedidLauriegood,though,ofcourse,hedidnotownittilllongafterward.Menseldomdo,forwhenwomenaretheadvisers,thelordsofcreationdon’ttaketheadvicetilltheyhavepersuadedthemselvesthatitisjustwhattheyintendedtodo.Thentheyactuponit,and,ifitsucceeds,theygivetheweakervesselhalfthecreditofit.Ifitfails,theygenerouslygiveherthewhole.Lauriewentbacktohisgrandfather,andwassodutifullydevotedforseveralweeksthattheoldgentlemandeclaredtheclimateofNicehadimprovedhimwonderfully,andhehadbettertryitagain.Therewasnothingtheyounggentlemanwouldhavelikedbetter,butelephantscouldnothavedraggedhimbackafterthescoldinghehadreceived.Prideforbid,andwheneverthelonginggrewverystrong,hefortifiedhisresolutionbyrepeatingthewordsthathadmadethedeepestimpression—"Idespiseyou.""Goanddosomethingsplendidthatwillmakeherloveyou."

           Laurieturnedthematteroverinhismindsooftenthathesoonbroughthimselftoconfessthathehadbeenselfishandlazy,butthenwhenamanhasagreatsorrow,heshouldbeindulgedinallsortsofvagariestillhehasliveditdown.Hefeltthathisblightedaffectionswerequitedeadnow,andthoughheshouldneverceasetobeafaithfulmourner,therewasnooccasiontowearhisweedsostentatiously.Jowouldn’tlovehim,buthemightmakeherrespectandadmirehimbydoingsomethingwhichshouldprovethatagirl’s‘No’hadnotspoiledhislife.