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Thursday, May [[strikethrough]] 17 [[/strikethrough]] 29, 19[[strikethrough]]28 [/strikethrough]]30

A little while after I finished writing here yesterday afternoon the phone rang and Bob asked me to come over because he was "down in the mouth." His father called me in first and told me to "cheer him up." "Cheering up" is a funny business — years ago I decided sympathy was the most important thing for any friend to have — especially a woman. Sympathy for her friends' gladness or sadness. Sympathising with someones exalting gladness is easy, because if one understands the person, she can understand this glad enthusiasm and share it. The same thing ought to work with grey sadness... and when I was a little girl I made it do so, and noticed that when older people were with someone who was blue and unhappy they tried to argue and "cheer him up". I never wanted to lose the other quality, but yesterday, when it came to the test, I found I had to a certain degree. But I do hope, more almost than anything, that I was a help to Bob. I like him so very sincerely... and I admire him greatly for the way in which he's taking this blow. He is being fine about it. He hates the idea of having his father support him again while he studies architecture. He is reluctant about giving up this job to which he has become reconciled and in which he is intensely interested. He hates the idea of being handicapped in athletics, and although he has been told it's not going to make any difference, he naturally has the feeling it will. He is 

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darling in his attitude to the family - and awfully darling to me. He does like me sincerely too - so this will last. But I do wish he would get over the idea that I came to see him only because he was sick - perhaps that's bad technique, but technique has no place at a time like this.

He spoke about Lake Placid in September - it sounds too perfect to be true. I wonder - 

I hope the operation won't be too painful, and that I can do something, if ever so small, to make him feel better. Do I love him? I feel more strongly and sincerely to him than I have to anyone - but so terribly friendly sort of. I can't be bothered labeling it. It's here, I hope, to stay!