The Enchanted Cottage Page #7

like the touch of a magic wand.

I could feel the room changing.

There was a new warmth.

A new radiance.

And as I played,

the feeling of enchantment spread,

embracing everything about me.

I turned and looked at Oliver.

He was just as I saw him first.

That day in December.

It was everything I had ever dreamed of.

Suddenly I thought...

How could I fool myself that I could be

the bride of such a man as this?

I had to run away from him because

I couldn't let him see my tears.

When Laura ran from the room,

I knew how cruelly she'd been hurt.

I felt I must tell her.

I would release her from this horrible

mockery her marriage had become.

In all fairness,

it seemed the only solution.

And then

I remembered all her gentle kindnesses.

The thousand and one ways

she had lightened my loneliness.

Suddenly

I realized how much

she'd come to mean to me.

I took her in my arms to tell her.

She was beautiful.

More beautiful to me

than anyone I'd ever known.

That was when we knew.

Yes, we knew.

But it's all so bewildering.

Suddenly, I'm afraid.

I can't help it I'm afraid.

Why, Laura?

It's all mixed up with what she's

trying to tell you about the cottage.

It is this cottage.

What do you mean,

actually about the cottage?

The houses are like living beings.

Alive with all the thoughts and memories

of the people who've lived in them.

Those thoughts and memories go on

living as long as the house stands.

Yes, I think I understand.

I'm afraid it's some kind of trick.

You see. The lovers who came

here before were not like us.

Ours was a marriage of convenience.

They may think that we've

profaned their memory.

And this may be their revenge

Letting us have happiness

for a moment before taking it away.

You know, John.

I couldn't stand to be ugly again.

For Oliver.

Oh, my darling.

Well, John, what do you think?

She knows.

She never looks at us.

But she knows about the change.

Laura, Oliver.

Yes, John?

You asked me what I think

well, it's this.

Take this gift and enjoy it.

Without question without fear.

Accept it humbly

as a heavenly sent miracle.

And be grateful for it.

A miracle?

Don't either of you believe in miracles?

Modern miracles that may happen

to you or me today, tomorrow?

You've both been touched

by a power that is beyond this world.

Accept your blessing.

Don't tell anyone about it.

It belongs to you.

You are a friend.

John, I I...

That'd be the cab driver.

I told him to come back for me.

Just a minute.

We're so grateful for your kindness.

Good night, Laura.

- Homer?

- Here I am, sir.

Thank you.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good night, John.

And thanks.

Oh, Oliver, I love you so.

Sweet dreams, Evangeline and Clement.

Mary Ellen and Malcolm.

And all of you.

I do hope you consider us

worthy to join you.

I have the strangest feeling.

Almost as if these walls were breathing.

The air all around,

throbbing like a pulse.

All the memories and ghosts of love.

Live. Live live they seem to say.

This is our day and our night.

All our enchanted life to be lived now.

Laura. My love.

I worship you. I adore you.

I have a feeling you're a little mad.

It's a kind of midsummer madness.

It's contagious.

That's what's nice about it.

- Listen.

- What?

The song I hear.

The melody that whispers

all through this enchanted room.

What does it say the song you hear?

I love you, Laura.

That's what it says.

The song I hear.

I can't make up my mind whether you're

more beautiful awake or asleep.

I'm dreaming.

Well, tell me about it.

What's happening?

Mmm!

I had the most wonderful wedding.

The bride was wearing

a beautiful white satin wedding gown.

A pearl necklace... and

Isn't anyone paying

any attention to the groom?

Oh yes. He's the best part of

the wedding.

Everybody says so.

Mmm, he's positively stunning.

Darling, you don't say stunning

about a man. You say

Dashing!

Because you are.

And handsome

because you're that too.

All the other girls are

so jealous of the bride.

You'd think they'd know how to hide

their feelings. But they don't.

You don't seem very upset about it.

Oh, no.

After all, it's only a dream.

That was no dream.

Oliver.

Hmm?

They're very much in love.

Frankly, I'm delighted they're coming.

I'm only sorry I didn't make

the gesture myself. But

Feeling the way they did, we just

couldn't invite them to the wedding.

And I don't want mother to feel

I have a perfectly dreadful reason

for being glad they're coming back.

Of course, I want them to

see how happy we are

and to share in our happiness but

Well, but, most of all, I

I wanted to see that Oliver

didn't do too badly marrying me.

And I have the most exciting

new dress for the occasion.

Oh, wait until you see it, Oliver.

Perhaps I better do

something about that too.

You don't want to steal

the whole show, do you?

Yes!

Oh, there won't be time now.

That's their car

just turning off the highway.

They'll be here in a few minutes.

But I don't want to meet

them looking like this.

It's so typical of mother

not to give us any more warning.

See here. Go ahead, you two.

I'll entertain your mother

and stepfather, Oliver.

Oh, will you, John? You're a darling!

Don't be long, Oliver.

It's rather an imposition.

Are you sure you don't mind?

Not at all.

In fact, I'm particularly glad

for the opportunity.

Mrs. Minnett.

Yes?

Do you suppose you could have

an especially fine tea this afternoon?

Mr. and Mrs. Price are coming to call.

That's what the telegram was about.

What's the matter, Mrs. Minnett?

Oh, don't be upset about it.

We're very pleased they're coming.

Are you all right, Mrs. Minnett?

Yes. I'm all right.

Mrs. Minnett?

Yes, Mr. Hillgrove?

Please don't call Mr. and Mrs. Bradford

yet.

Let me have a talk

with Mr. and Mrs. Price first.

- Understand?

- I understand.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Minnett.

You see, Freddie.

I did remember the name.

It's so nice to see you again.

Same dreary little place.

- Frederic!

- Oh. Charming room, isn't it?

Ohh.

Will you go in and sit down, please?

How are you, Mr...?

Hillgrove's the name.

How do you know us?

Oops, sorry.

I'm a friend of Oliver and Laura.

Won't you sit down, please?

Oh, thank you.

Where is Oliver, Mr. Hillgrove?

He and Laura are upstairs.

I said I'd talk to you

till they've changed.

I'm glad of the opportunity because

I thought it was important to.

explain something to you that

Oh.

He doesn't want to see us, is that it?

They do want to see you.

Both of them. Very much.

It's just that I

How shall I put it?

Perhaps if I

I don't know if you've ever heard it

But there's an old legend

about some people

who lived in a city of eternal night.

They were blind all of them.

As I am blind.

The city was in ruins.

But they saw it not

as a fallen citadel.

But as a great and

beautiful dwelling place.

Greater and more beautiful

than it had ever been.

That was because... they looked upon

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