Unless you happen to be in touch with them intellectually, however, this is not saying that you will always find all of them the liveliest of companions. The name connotes honor, ability, character; it does not necessarily imply humor, high spirits, the joy of life.
Desire herself told me of her engagement. I don't, somehow, forget how she looked when she came to tell me about it--shy, excited, radiant. She fluttered into my office and stood at the end of my desk, looking down at me. Desire was very pretty at twenty-one, with her pointed face and big expressive eyes, her white forehead shadowed by a heap of cloudy, curling, dark hair. Palpitating with life, she looked like some kind of a marvelous human hummingbird. It did not surprise me that Arnold Ackroyd found her
"All a wonder and a wild desire."
{61}
For all her excitement she spoke very softly.
"Uncle Ben, mother wants me to tell you something. I have n't told anybody else but her."
"What is it, Desire?"
"I--why, Uncle Ben--I've promised to marry Arnold Ackroyd!"
"Well, well," I said inadequately, "this is news!"
Desire nodded wistfully.