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XV. The Beginning of Vacation
Wemakeourownliveswhereverweare,afterall...collegecanonlyhelpustodoitmoreeasily.Theyarebroadornarrowaccordingtowhatweputintothem,notwhatwegetout.Lifeisrichandfullhere...everywhere...ifwecanonlylearnhowtoopenourwholeheartstoitsrichnessandfulness.”
“IthinkIunderstandwhatyoumean,”saidAnnethoughtfully,“andIknowIhavesomuchtofeelthankfulfor...oh,somuch...mywork,andPaulIrving,andthedeartwins,andallmyfriends.Doyouknow,Mrs.Allan,I’msothankfulforfriendship.Itbeautifieslifesomuch.”
“Truefriendshipisaveryhelpfulthingindeed,”saidMrs.Allan,“andweshouldhaveaveryhighidealofit,andneversullyitbyanyfailureintruthandsincerity.Ifearthenameoffriendshipisoftendegradedtoakindofintimacythathasnothingofrealfriendshipinit.”
“Yes...likeGertiePye’sandJuliaBell’s.Theyareveryintimateandgoeverywheretogether;butGertieisalwayssayingnastythingsofJuliabehindherbackandeverybodythinkssheisjealousofherbecausesheisalwayssopleasedwhenanybodycriticizesJulia.Ithinkitisdesecrationtocallthatfriendship.Ifwehavefriendsweshouldlookonlyforthebestinthemandgivethemthebestthatisinus,don’tyouthink?Thenfriendshipwouldbethemostbeautifulthingintheworld.”
“FriendshipISverybeautiful,”smiledMrs.Allan,“butsomeday...”
Thenshepausedabruptly
