In any case the results were very nearly disastrous to Diana. The physical effects were naturally pronounced in a character such as hers, hysterical gastritis, disordered metabolism of course; but the mental disturbance was intense. An immediate introversion, excessive timidity, and a terror of dancing were the gross symptoms. Her father dropped what he was doing and hurried to her, where he argued with the healers over her treatment, created a bedlam, and finally snatched her away to subject her to an uproarious picaresque six months that left her no time to think. Toward the end of the time, an unimaginative handsome young animal coaxed her back into a normal sex life. She quickly tired of him, and he of her, and she awoke one morning to find herself completely cured, and anxious, not only to dance, but to enjoy the world and the people in it.
Her illness may not have improved her dancing, but it widened her horizon. Although still strongly interested in dance, and firmly believing it to be the most living and personal of all the arts, she now found herself not only cured, but grown up, with an alert interest in all life, all knowledge, the whole cultural pattern. But her reputation as a dancer grew even as it became to her more and more a means whereby she had the opportunity to enjoy more fully the myriad other aspects of living.
The Author]
IV
Diana awoke the next morning with a feeling that it was going to be a nice day. She stretched and yawned contentedly. As she sat up her eyes fell on Perry, tousle-headed and still sleeping. She sat still and then a smile stole over her face. Of course, that was it. She was no longer obsessed by the doubts and forebodings of the previous night. It seemed right and proper and very much fun to be helping a lost boy to find himself. Humming quietly she entered her refreshing room and prepared for the day. Perhaps she took a little longer with her hair-do than usual. In any case it was several minutes and a few more before she emerged pink and glowing into the living room. She glanced at Perry, and assured herself that he still slept, then quietly commenced preparations for breakfast. She was interrupted shortly by a voice behind her.
“Good morning.”
“Oh, you startled me. Good morning, Perry. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
“Yes, but say—you look gorgeous!”
Diana blushed and dropped her eyes. “Don’t try to flatter me.”
“But you do.”
“Is it the custom of your time to make such direct personal compliments?”
“Why, yes. Isn’t it nowadays?”
“Well—, yes, if you wish and it’s deserved.”
“I think you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“But—Oh, bother. Hurry up and refresh yourself. Breakfast will be ready before you are.”
Perry laughed, and ducked into the guest’s refreshment chamber. Diana went determinedly ahead with her work. She mistakenly put a quantity of flour instead of tea in the steeper, turned boiling water over it, then stamped her foot and said ‘bother’ again, before washing out the pasty mess. Perry stuck his head into the room.
“Dian’!”
“Yes, Perry?”
“Is there some way I can shave around here? My face is a sight.”
“There is a capillotomer in my ‘fresher. You can plug it in yours.”
“What’s a catillopomer?”
“Not a catillopomer, a capillotomer, a hair cutter.”
“Will it shave?”
“Smooth as a baby. Here, I’ll get it for you.” She fetched it and showed him how to use it.
“Why, it’s the old dryshaver, streamlined and with a college education.”
“It’s old fashioned all right, but I don’t care much for depilatories. Quit playing with it and shave. I’m about to serve.”
“In a jiffy.”
“All right, as long a jiffy isn’t over five minutes.”
Breakfast was a dream of Hedonism. Clear winter sunshine crowned the snow on the far mountains. A light breeze made lacy patterns of the falls. Inside the glass screen two hungry healthy young people looked at each other over cups of steaming black tea and found the other in every way pleasant to look upon. In the background an orchestra in Honolulu played softly and substituted for conversation. Presently the toast was gone and with it the poached eggs and fruit cup.
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