object, may labor and toil to attain a certain kind of leisure and occupation,

and then find that, after all, he yearns for the old busy days, and the old

occupations that he thought himself so glad to leave?”

 

“Yes,” I said slowly. “I fancy that that is a common enough occurrence.

 

I myself am perhaps an instance. A year ago I came into a legacy—enough to

enable me to realize a dream. I have always wanted to travel, to see the world.

Well, that was a year ago, as I said, and—I am still here.”

 

My little neighbor nodded.

 

“The chains of habit. We work to attain an object, and the object gained, we

find that what we miss is the daily toil. And mark you, monsieur, my work was

interesting work. The most interesting work there is in the world.”

 

“Yes?” I said encouragingly. For the moment the spirit of Caroline was strong

within me.

 

“The study of human nature, monsieur!”

 

“Just so,” I said kindly.

 

Clearly a retired hairdresser. Who knows the secrets of human nature better than

a hairdresser?