1203. THE ABSTEMIOUS DR. MARCHANT

THE ABSTEMIOUS

DR. MARCHANT

'I am strongly of the opinion that nothing

is easier to hide than something

that is already hidden, and that nothing

is more obvious than that which is already

right before us. Also that we should

have more love and less law.' He said

that standing sideways, leaning on a

wall like only a rich man can do. He looked

pretty much like a man who did nothing :

BUT : opined for others, voiced his opinions

openly, found exceptions to every rule, and

then found a rule to beat even the exceptions.

A woman seeking a mate might say 'I like

that in a man.' A woman long married might

scoff. Either way, the proof would be in the

pudding, as is said. Yet...as I knew it would,

the world subtly changed this viewpoint.

Sparrows fell and clouds rolled over the sun.

The dark of an early evening entered midnight

way before its time. I wanted to ask him what

he did for the living. 'I bury the dead,' he answered,

'and those not yet dead, well, them I try my very

best to make well again.' His words sounded like

a Bach cantata in my head. I wanted to nod assent,

but - instead - seemed frozen in place by fear.