“Something important is always about to happen... And if not, you'd do well to act as if it were. You'll enjoy life better that way.”

“I had to do something," she said. "I couldn't just sit and wait for life to happen to me any longer.”

“She was married now, and suddenly she understoodwhat it was her motherhad been trying so hard to tell her on her wedding night. Marriage was about compromise, and she andPhillip were verydifferent people. They might be perfect for one another, but that didn't mean they were the same. And ifshe wanted him to change some of his ways for her, well then, she was going to have to do the same forhim.”

“I believe I told you I am utterly serious. I never lie.""Now that is a clanker if ever I heard one." she retorted."Well, then, I never lie about anything important."Her hands found their way to her hips and she let out a loud, "Harumph.”

“Does that feel better?" she asked, not expecting any sort of an answer but feeling nonetheless that she ought to continue with her one-sided conversation. "I really don't know very much about caring for the ill, but it just seems to me like you'd want something cool on your brow. I know if I were sick, that's how I'd feel."He shifted restlessly, mumbling something utterly incoherent."Really?" Sophie replied, trying to smile but failing miserably. "I'm glad you feel that way."He mumbled something else."No," she said, dabbing the cool cloth on his ear, "I'd have to agree with what you said the first time." He went still again."I'd be happy to reconsider," she said worriedly. "Please don't take offense." He didn't move.Sophie sighed. One could only converse so long with an unconscious man before one started to feel extremely silly.”

“Are you certain you'll be happy?" she asked.Eloise smiled ruefully. "It's a little late to wonder, don't you think?""It might be too late to do anything about it, but it's never too late to wonder.”

“He was not quite sure how to phrase it, so he finally went with,haltingly, “I don’t enjoy being at the center of attention.”Her head tilted to the side, she regarded him for a long momentbefore saying, “No. You don’t.” And then: “You were always atree.”“I beg your pardon?”Her eyes grew sentimental. “When we performed our awfulpantomimes as children. You were always a tree.”“I never had to say anything.”“And you always got to stand at the back.”He felt himself smile, lopsided and true. “I rather liked being atree.”“You were a very good tree.” She smiled then, too—a radiant,wondrous thing. “The world needs more trees.”