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That must give some variety to existence, Mrs. Moreton, said Brand. And variety is the best spice for life that I know of.
Do you know that story of Colonel Higginsons, Moreton went on, called A Monarch of Dreams, about a man who developed the power of controlling his dreams and became so delighted and absorbed in them that he gave himself up to the life he lived while asleep and allowed his real existence to wither away until it was of no consequence at all to him or any one else? It has always seemed to me a wonderful bit of eerie imagination. And there are such alluring suggestions for experiment in it!
Felix Brands brown eyes were fixed in a speculative stare upon the mass of roses that glowed at the center of the table. Miss Marne, glancing at him, knew that, whether or not he was thinking of them, he was conscious of their beauty in every fibre of his being. I wonder, he said slowly, and she saw Mildred Annisters gaze turn quickly upon him as the girl bent forward with parted lips. I wonder very, very much, he repeated, just how much one could do toward making ones dream-people come alive. I mean, toward making the different kind of person one sometimes is in a dream the real person when one is awake. You know how different you seem sometimes when you are asleep, not at all the same kind of person you are when you are awake. Now, wouldnt it be interesting if you could make yourself be that person sometimes after you wake up? It seems to me it would be a delightful change from being the same person all the time. This being tied fast to yourself year in and year out gets very monotonous.
Miss Annister gave a little gasp and leaned nearer to him, distress in her eyes.
Dont say that! she begged, hardly above a whisper. Dont even think such things! You are you, and I wouldnt have you different for worlds and worlds!
Her disturbed little appeal was shielded from observation by a vivacious feminine voice which called out simultaneously: Please finish my house before you turn yourself into anybody else, Mr. Brand! You know weve only settled on the back porch and one dormer window, so far, and Ill leave it to these good people if thats enough for a family of six to live in!
Henrietta smiled discreetly at her plate, for she knew along what a tortuous path of inchoate ideas and breezy caprices Mrs. Grahame Fenlow, upon the sightliness of whose new chauffeur she and her sister were basing their hopes of keeping their maid of all work, had led the architect in his attempt to design a new house for her.
Arent you afraid, mother, exclaimed Mark Fenlow, from his seat beside Henrietta, if you dont decide pretty soon whether you want that dormer window in the cellar or the roof and whether the back porch is to be before or behind the house, that Mr. Brand will be driven to try a new personality, or incarnation, or or drink, or whatever you call it!
Why, heres the doctor at last, cried Felix Brand as he rose to greet the newcomer and lead him to his seat at the table.
Dr. Philip Annister, smiling affably at the company, scarcely looked the famous specialist in nerve diseases that he was. Short and slight in physique, his head, when he stood beside his handsome wife, was barely on a level with hers. Wherefore, his shoes, ever since his wedding day, had been noticeably high of heel, and rarely was he known to wear other head covering than a silk hat. He had cast aside the look of abstraction which commonly possessed his thin, pale countenance and his manner and speech of modest geniality soon won for him the favor of all the heterogeneous company to whom he was not already known. His wife noticed that his eyes rested frequently upon their host and later she said to him:
Felix is looking handsomer than ever tonight, isnt he!
Yes, I suppose so, he answered hesitatingly. But, Margaret, theres an expression growing on his face that I dont like. Its creating a doubt about him in my mind.
What do you mean? His manner tonight toward all this queer mixture of people has been perfect cordial, unassuming, delicately courteous and friendly toward every one. And, really, Philip, I dont know a handsomer man! His face is so refined, and those brown, caressing eyes of his are enough to turn any girls head. I dont wonder in the least that Mildred is so completely in love with him. What is it you dont like about his looks, Philip?
I dont quite know, and perhaps it isnt fair to him to put it into words until I do know. It is less evident tonight, when he is all animation and his thoughts are full of the entertainment of his guests, than I have seen it sometimes lately. You know, Margaret, Felix has an unusually expressive countenance. Its like a crystal mask, and its bound to reveal the very shape and color of his soul. I think I begin to see signs in it of selfishness and grossness
Oh, Philip! How can you! Grossness! Hes the most refined
You havent announced Mildreds engagement yet, have you? her husband interrupted. Im glad of that, he went on in a relieved tone as she shook her head, and I hope you will not for some time.
Mildred is beginning to look forward rather eagerly to being married, said Mrs. Annister, smiling soberly. Im almost afraid shes more in love than he is.
Im so glad I came tonight. It has been lovely! Henrietta Marne at that moment was saying to her host, at the other side of the room.
You have enjoyed it? and he bent upon her his brown eyes with their look of caressing indulgence. Im glad of that, for Im afraid you dont have as many enjoyments as a girl ought to have, by right of her youth and beauty and charm.
I was afraid I ought not to come, because my mother is ill.
Ah, that Puritan conscience of yours, Miss Marne! Dont be so afraid of it when the question is nothing more than getting some innocent pleasure out of life.
But one isnt afraid of ones conscience. One just takes counsel of it, or with it.
Of course! But if one you, for instance yielded to it more than its due and it really is insatiable, you know, if you let it get the upper hand what a wretched affair life would be! Simply unendurable!
But theres always a satisfaction in doing what one ought to do, Mr. Brand dont you think so? even if it is hard.
Oh, if you like your satisfaction to taste hard and bitter! I dont! I think its much better to hold ourselves free to take advantage of all the possibilities of happiness, little and big, that come our way. Its really a duty that we owe ourselves. And, of course, if we are happy we make others about us happy too. You, Im sure, need enjoyment so much that it would be a great mistake for you to throw away any opportunity. And Im very glad you didnt neglect this little one!
Mrs. Fenlow and her son were at his elbow to say goodnight, and as he shook hands with Mark, whose mother had already passed on to an exchange of confidences concerning hairdressers with Miss Ardeen Andrews, he laid his hand affectionately on the young mans shoulder and said in a low tone:
Youre coming tomorrow night, Mark, of course?
Sure! D. V. and d. p. God willing and the devil permitting!
It will be very different from this, and Brand smiled slightly, a winning, deprecating smile, as with the least perceptible motion of his head he indicated the company that filled his spacious drawing room. But a man doesnt want his relaxations to be all alike, any more than he wants all flowers to be of the same color.