human
Surely it is not without meaning that the places of the dead are the serenest spots on earth, said Mrs. Temperley.
gpt
If I could keep myself in the mood that the place induces, I think I should not mind anything very much any more. The sunshine seems to rest more tenderly there than elsewhere, and the winds have a reverence for the graves, as if they felt it time that the dead were left in peace--the 'happier dead,' as poor immortal Tithonius calls them, who has not the gift of death. And the grey old tower and the weather stains on the stones; there is a conspiracy of beauty in the place, that holds one as one is held by music.
human
Ah! I know the magic of these things; it tempts one to believe at times that Nature is _not_ all blind and unpitying. But that is a delusion: if there were any pity in Nature, the human spirit would not be dowered with such infinite and terrible longings and such capacities and dreams and prayers and then--then insulted with the mockery of death and annihilation.
gpt
If there should be no Beyond,
human
That to me is inconceivable. When we die we fall into an eternal sleep. Moreover, I can see no creed that does not add the fear of future torments to the certainties of these.
gpt
You should cultivate faith, she said;
human
Good heavens! I don't think we have anything for lunch! Mrs. Temperley exclaimed.
gpt
Are you very hungry? What is to be done? It was the faithlessness of our butcher that disturbed the serenity of my mood this morning. Perhaps the poor beast whose carcase we were intending to devour will feel serene instead of me: but, alas! I fear he has been slaughtered _quand même_. That is one of the unsatisfactory things about life: that all its worst miseries bring good to no one. One may deny oneself, but not a living thing is necessarily the better for it--generally many are the worse. The wheels of pain go turning day by day, and the gods stand aloof--they will not help us, nor will they stay the 'wild world' in its course. No, no, added Mrs. Temperley with a laugh,
human
I am not tired of life, but I am tired _with_ it; it won't give me what I want. That is perhaps because I want so much.
gpt
Good heavens! Hubert has brought home a crowd of people to lunch, exclaimed Hadria,
human
Does the day matter?
gpt
Oh ... can't one eat fish?
human
My dear, I have brought Fleming home to lunch.
gpt
Thank heaven, _only one!_
human
I could not conveniently have brought home several,
gpt
I thought you would be at least seven, cried the mistress of the house,
human
What _do_ you mean, if one may ask for simple English?
gpt
Merely that that intolerable Sanders has broken his word--_hinc illæ lacrimæ_.