Sealed Lips — page 230: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

222 SEALED LIPS. now talk seriously with some one. You can im- -agine how hard it is to talk of the rain and the beautiful weather when oneisas lam. But I must spare the nerves of these two poor women for whom I am preparing an entertainment, as you know. I take care of themthe best I can. Jenny is out driving. Did you not meet her? “Talk of yourself. How do you feel? I did not expect to find you looking so well.” “T should advise you not to rely upon that too much. My body is always pretty well, but it does not cure my heart; it simply incloses it. I recall to myself those fairy dancers who stand before the trap-door, their costumes held only by the wires that they pull to shift the scene. Only this time costume andthe person will go into the trap at once.” “There is one thing that will not go into the trap, my friend; that is your soul. But perhaps you may be cured yet. Sometimes with your disease people live to a good old age.” “That remains to be seen. While waiting let us improve every hour and minute, for between us old age is not what I fear the most. Do you remember? J asked fora year, one year only! It lacks three months of that time. Still if it only lacked that!” “Have you not been happy?” “IT have been on the point of being so once or twice. But this happiness has cost others too dearly, you first, and then her. Oh, Patrice! how Gomi E| 6) 0)(0) q& (C 0)