“You’re getting nearly as obscure as he is,” remonstrated Pierce. “What is all this mysterious introduction leading up to? What do you mean?”
“I mean,” replied the lawyer, “that experience has taught me a little secret about very practical public characters like that lady. It sounds a paradox; but those practical people are often more morbid than theoretical people. They are capable of acting; but they are also capable of brooding when they are not acting. Their very stoicism makes too sentimental a secret of their sentimentalism. They misunderstand those they love; and make a mystery of the misunderstanding. They suffer in silence; a horrid habit. In short, they can do everything; but they don’t know how to do nothing. Theorists, happy people who do nothing, like our friend Pierce——”
“L
