Lazy Laurence

           LauriewenttoNiceintendingtostayaweek,andremainedamonth.Hewastiredofwanderingaboutalone,andAmy’sfamiliarpresenceseemedtogiveahomelikecharmtotheforeignscenesinwhichsheboreapart.Herathermissedthe‘petting’heusedtoreceive,andenjoyedatasteofitagain,fornoattentions,howeverflattering,fromstrangers,werehalfsopleasantasthesisterlyadorationofthegirlsathome.Amyneverwouldpethimliketheothers,butshewasverygladtoseehimnow,andquiteclungtohim,feelingthathewastherepresentativeofthedearfamilyforwhomshelongedmorethanshewouldconfess.Theynaturallytookcomfortineachother’ssocietyandweremuchtogether,riding,walking,dancing,ordawdling,foratNicenoonecanbeveryindustriousduringthegayseason.But,whileapparentlyamusingthemselvesinthemostcarelessfashion,theywerehalf-consciouslymakingdiscoveriesandformingopinionsabouteachother.Amyrosedailyintheestimationofherfriend,buthesankinhers,andeachfeltthetruthbeforeawordwasspoken.Amytriedtoplease,andsucceeded,forshewasgratefulforthemanypleasureshegaveher,andrepaidhimwiththelittleservicestowhichwomanlywomenknowhowtolendanindescribablecharm.Lauriemadenoeffortofanykind,butjustlethimselfdriftalongascomfortablyaspossible,tryingtoforget,andfeelingthatallwomenowedhimakindwordbecauseonehadbeencoldtohim.