Diary of a Drug Fiend

320 The Diary of a Drug Fiend ‘“‘ That reminds me,” she said, ‘‘ I must get you your charts.” She went to a cabinet and produced two forms. We languidly marked our little crosses in the proper section. “‘ Excuse the interruption,” she said, “but the Magical Record is always the first consideration in the Abbey.” The heroin woke me completely. “‘ T see the point, I think. All your rules are intended to reduce the part of life that has to be run by rules, as much as possible.” ‘“‘ That’s it,” she nodded emphatically. | “ But I say,” said Lou, “ it’s all very well; but I don’t know whatever I’m to do with myself. The time must hang frightfully heavy on your hands.” “God forgive you,” cried Athena. ‘‘ One never has a minute one can call one’s own!” We laughed outright. “It’s easy to see you’re a pupil of King Lamus. You have acquired his talent for paradox in a very complete manner.” **I know what you mean,” she said, smiling. “ If you're a lazy person, this is the worst place in the world for getting bored, and the lazier you determine to be the more bored you get. We had two people last year, absolutely hopeless rotters. They called themselves writers, and imagined they were working if they retired solemnly after breakfast and produced half a page of piffle by lunch. But they didn’t know the meaning of work ; and the place nearly drove them insane. They were bored with the Abbey, and bored with each other, and were very insulted because every- body laughed at them. But they couldn’t see the way out, and wouldn’t take it when it was shown them. It made them physically ill, and they went away at last to every one’s relief to an environment where they could potter about indefinitely and pose as great genijses. The Big Lion does more in a day than they will ever do in their lives if they live into the next