Page:At the Door (1905).pdf/39

 "What sort of trouble," inquired the Dream.

"Why, when the good thoughts go to putting the bad ones out."

"Oh, they're all out, long ago," replied the Dream.

"And didn't they fight any?"

"Can nothing fight with something?" asked the Dream.

"N-o," said Marjorie. "What do you mean?"

"Well," said the Dream, "bad thoughts are just the absence of good thoughts, that's all."

"I don't think I understand you," said Marjorie.

"Well, what is the absence of Content called?"

"Discontent."

"Then is Discontent anything? Where is it when Content comes?"

"It isn't anywhere. Oh, I see now; I do see that bad thoughts are only the absence of good thoughts. Hate is the absence of Love, it isn't anything in itself; and Selfishness is just the absence of Generosity; and that was the way that Industry put Idleness out, just by being there."

"You're right," said the Dream. "You know