y, "When I was nine, I found these little books in
our library and after that I enjoyed vicariously the life I had never
lived. That's why I like it here--Mrs. Flippin's kettle sings--and the
crickets chirp--and Mr. and Mrs. Flippin are comfortable--and cozy--and
content."

It was a long speech. "So now you see," she said, as she ended, "why I
like Dickens."

"Yes. I see. And so--in your next incarnation you are going to be
like----"

"Little Dorrit."

He laughed and leaned forward. "I can't imagine--you."

"She really had a heavenly time. Dickens tried to make you feel sorry
for her. But she had the best of it all through. Somebody always wanted
her."

"But she was imposed upon. And her unselfishness brought her heavy
burdens."

"She got a lot out of it in the end, didn't she? And what do selfish
people get? I'm one of them. I live absolutely for myself. There isn't a
person except Flora who gets anything of service or self-sacrifice out
of me. I came down here because she wanted me, but I hated to come. The
modern theory is that unselfishness weakens. And the modern psychologist
would tell you that little Dorrit was all wrong. She gave herself for
others--and it didn't pay. But does the other thing pay?"

"Selfishness?"

"Yes. I'm selfish, and Oscar is, and Flora, and George Dalton, and most
of the people we know. And we are all bored to death. If being unselfish
is interesting, why not let us be unselfish?" Her lively glance seemed
to challenge him, and they laughed together.

"I know what you mean."

"Of course you do. Everybody does who _thinks_."

"And so you are going to wait for the next plane to do the things that
you want to do?"

"Yes."

"But why--wait?"

"How can I break away? I am tied into knots with the people whom I have
always known; and I shall keep on doing the things I have always done,
just as I shall keep on wearing pale purples and letting my skin get
burned so that I may seem distinctive."

It came to him with something of a shock that she did these things with
intention. That the charms which seemed to belong to her were carefully
planned.

Yet how could he tell if what she said was true, when her eyes laughed?

"I shall get all I can out of being here. Mary Flippin is going to let
me help her make butter, and Mrs. Flippin will teach me to make
corn-bread, and some day I am going fishing with the Judge and Mr.
Flippin and learn to fry eggs out-of-doors----"

"So those