Page:Dream Life - Mitchell - 1899? Altemus.djvu/33

 We do not like to see our emotions unriddled: it is not agreeable to the proud man to find his weaknesses exposed: it is shocking to the disappointed lover to see his heart laid bare: it is a great grief to the pining maiden to witness the exposure of her loves. We do not like our fancies painted we do not contrive them for rehearsal: our dreams are private, and when they are made public, we disown them.

I sometimes think that I must be a very honest fellow, for writing down those fancies which every one else seems afraid to whisper. I shall at least, come in for m share of the odium in entertaining such fancies: indeed I shall expect the charge of entertaining them exclusively; and shall scarce expect to find a single fellow-confessor, unless it be some pure, and innocent thoughted girl, who will say peccavi, to—here and there—a single rainbow fancy.

Well, I can bear it; but in bearing it, I shall be consoled with the reflection that I have a great company of fellow-sufferers, who lack only the honesty to tell me of their sympathy. It will even relieve in no small degree my burden, to watch the effort they will take to conceal, what I have so boldly divulged.

Nature is very much the same thing in one man, that it is in another: and as I