I can
remember distinctly how lovely it was. They tasted better than any
candies I've ever had before or since, and I leaned back on the boughs,
rocking and eating and looking at the clouds and feeling the wind
swaying the trunk. I can shut my eyes and feel again the sense of
being entirely happy, sort of limp and forgetful and _so_ contented. I
don't know whether it was only the candies, or a combination of things
that were just right that day and never combined the same way again.
For I tried it often afterwards, with cake and fruit tart and other
candies, but it was no good. But I couldn't have the tree cut down,
for there was always a hope that I might get the combination right and
have that perfectly delightful time once more."
The doctor's laughter echoed between the banks, and hers fell in with
it, though she had told her story with the utmost sedateness.
"Was there ever such a materialist?" he chuckled. "It all rose from a
box of New York candy, and I thought it was sentiment. Twenty-one
years old and the same baby, only not quite so fat."
"Well, it was the truth," she said defensively.
Pages:
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337