The Preliminaries, and Other Stories

s (or I supposed so) been such friends, this niece and I, that I could not believe she would take such an important step without an ef

s on promiscuous divorce are as well known in the family as are those of South Carolina. They are simple, those views, and old-fashioned, but also, I may add, cosmic; they run about as follows: it is hard that John and Mary should be unha

away. And yet the foolish old uncle in me was hurt that she did so. I felt that she ought to come and t

w I felt. At all events, in place

UNCLE

rol is wearing quite thin in spots, and I'm so tired of explaining myself (when there's nothing to explain exce

that was the flexible, soft garment of your very Self? I am laying aside a lif

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choose the one that belongs to me. Temperament is destiny. I am following mine. I am doing what I wish to do. But I don't like the way people hinder me with arguments that have nothing to do with the real content of the matter. So I am saying good-bye at arm's lengt

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ly, you'll like Arthur just as well as you do

ys, even

oving

SI

eeled, glittering, about them and their desires. Also, how could Desire be so guiltless of all the thousand scruples and delicacies that were her birthright? How could

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