The Coast Of Bohemia - William Dean Howells

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the laugh that responded was without any of that reservation or uncertainty which a subtle observer may often detect in the enjoyment of brilliant things said at dinner. But the great charm of the Westley dinners was that people generally did understand each other there. If you made a joke, as Wetmore said, you were not often required to spell it. He celebrated the Westleys as ideal hosts: Mrs. Westley had the youth and beauty befitting a second wife; her social ambition had as yet not developed into the passion for millionaires; she was simply content with painters, like himself and Ludlow, literary men, lawyers, doctors and their several wives.

      General Westley was in what Wetmore called the bloom of age. He might be depended upon for the unexpected, like fate. He occasionally did it, he occasionally said it, from the passive hospitality that characterized him.

      "I believe I share that impatience of yours, Mrs. Rangeley," he now remarked; "though in the present case I think we ought to leave everything to Mr. Ludlow's conscience."

      "Oh, do you think that would be quite safe?" she asked with burlesque seriousness. "Well! If we must!"

      Ludlow said, "Why, I think Mrs. Rangeley is right. I would much rather yield to compulsion. I don't mind telling what kept me, if I'm obliged to."

      "Oh, I almost hate to have you, now!" Mrs. Rangeley bubbled back. "Your willingness, somehow, makes it awful. You may be going to boast of it!"

      "No, no!" Wetmore interposed. "I don't believe it's anything to boast of."

      "Now, you see, you must speak," said Mrs. Westley.

      Ludlow fell back in his chair, and dreamily crumbled his bread. "I don't see how I can, exactly."

      Wetmore leaned forward and looked at Ludlow round the snowy shoulder of a tall lady next him.

      "Is there any particular form of words in which you like to be prompted, when you get to this point?"

      "Dr. Brayton might hypnotize him," suggested the lady whose shoulder Wetmore was looking round.

      The doctor answered across the table, "In these cases of the inverted or prostrated will, there is often not volition enough to coöperate with the hypnotizer. I don't believe I could do anything with Mr. Ludlow."

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