Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/365

XXII] "But suppose the book were really rubbish——nothing to repay attention?"

"Well, suppose it," said the Earl. "My theory meets that case, I assure you! $$A$$ never finds out that it is rubbish, but maunders on to the end, trying to believe he's enjoying himself. $$B$$ quietly shuts the book, when he's read a dozen pages, walks off to the Library, and changes it for a better! I have yet another theory for adding to the enjoyment of Life——that is, if I have not exhausted your patience? I'm afraid you find me a very garrulous old man."

"No indeed!" I exclaimed earnestly. And indeed I felt as if one could not easily tire of the sweet sadness of that gentle voice.

"It is, that we should learn to take our pleasures quickly, and our pains slowly."

"But why? I should have put it the other way, myself."

"By taking artificial pain——which can be as trivial as you please——slowly, the result is that, when real pain comes, however severe, all you need do is to let it go at its ordinary pace, and it's over in a moment!"

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