An almost impenetrable bloom of optimism has made her a beloved figure in the city. Her conversation is filled with enthusiasm, French phrases, and an infectious hyperbole. She appears to have a nature that is permanently sunny and filled with hope. It is so unpleasant. Mrs. Hart came of age at a time when such resolute behavior reflected the highest standards.
Denial is a marvelous thing.
Each morning, very purposefully, Mrs. Hart dresses herself in ebullience. Like most people who have ever encountered Mrs. Hart, I was immediately drawn to her cheerful demeanor, her way of whistling in the dark. She often speaks about her past in anecdotes, as if she had firmly shaped her memories into amusing stories, as a performer would. A few years ago, just after Marietta Tree died, I went to have tea with her. Mrs. Hart was unusually subdued.