Shelthorpe，9SawstonParkRoad，SawstonDearAnsell，ButI’minlove——adetailyou’veforgotten。Ican’tlistentoEnglishEssays。ThewretchedAgnesmaybean"emissaryofNature，"butIonlygrinnedwhenIreadit。Imaybeextraordinarilycivilized，butIdon’tfeelso;I’minlove，andI’vefoundawomantoloveme，andImeantohavethehundredotherthingsaswell。Shewantsmetohavethem——friendsandwork，andspiritualfreedom，andeverything。Youandyourbooksmissthis，becauseyourbooksaretoosedate。Readpoetry——notonlyShelley。UnderstandBeatrice，andClaraMiddleton，andBrunhildeinthefirstsceneofGotterdammerung。UnderstandGoethewhenhesays"theeternalfeminineleadsuson，"anddon’twriteanotherEnglishEssay。——Yourseveraffectionately，R。E
　　CambridgeDearRickie:
　　WhatamItosay？"UnderstandXanthippe，andMrs。Bennet，andElsainthequestionsceneofLohengrin"？"UnderstandEuripideswhenhesaystheeternalfeminineleadsusaprettydance"？I
　　shallsaynothingofthesort。TheallusionsinthisEnglishEssayshallnotbeliterary。MypersonalobjectionstoMissPembrokeareasfollows:——
　　（1）Sheisnotserious。
　　（2）Sheisnottruthful。
　　Shelthorpe，9SawstonParkRoadSawstonMyDearStewart，Youcouldn’tknow。Ididn’tknowforamoment。Butthisletterofyoursisthemostwonderfulthingthathaseverhappenedtomeyet——morewonderful（Idon’texaggerate）thanthemomentwhenAgnespromisedtomarryme。Ialwaysknewyoulikedme，butI
　　neverknewhowmuchuntilthisletter。UptonowIthinkwehavebeentoomuchlikethestrongheroesinbookswhofeelsomuchandsaysolittle，andfeelallthemoreforsayingsolittle。
　　Nowthat’soverandweshallneverbethatkindofanassagain。
　　We’vehit——byaccident——uponsomethingpermanent。You’vewrittentome，"Ihatethewomanwhowillbeyourwife，"andIwriteback，"Hateher。Can’tIloveyouboth？"Shewillnevercomebetweenus，Stewart（Shewouldn’twishto，butthat’sbytheway），becauseourfriendshiphasnowpassedbeyondintervention。
　　Nothirdpersoncouldbreakit。Wecouldn’tourselves，Ifancy。
　　Wemayquarrelandarguetilloneofusdies，butthethingisregistered。Ionlywish，dearman，youcouldbehappier。Forme，it’sasifalightwassuddenlyheldbehindtheworld。
　　R。E。
　　Shelthorpe，9SawstonParkRoad，SawstonDearMrs。Lewin，——
　　Thetimegoesflying，butIamgettingtolearnmywonderfulboy。
　　Wespeakagreatdealabouthiswork。Hehasjustfinishedacuriousthingcalled"Nemi"——aboutaRomanshipthatisactuallysunkinsomelake。Icannotthinkhowhedescribesthethings，whenhehasneverseenthem。If，asIhope，hegoestoItalynextyear，heshouldturnoutsomethingreallygood。Meanwhilewearehuntingforapublisher。Herbertbelievesthatacollectionofshortstoriesishardtogetpublished。Itis，afterall，bettertowriteonelongone。
　　Butyoumustnotthinkweonlytalkbooks。Whatwesayonothertopicscannotsoeasilyberepeated！Oh，MrsLewin，heisadear，anddearerthanevernowthatwehavehimatSawston。Herbert，inaquietway，hasbeenmakinginquiriesaboutthoseCambridgefriendsofhis。Nothingagainstthem，buttheyseemtobeterriblyeccentric。Noneofthemaregoodatgames，andtheyspendalltheirsparetimethinkinganddiscussing。Theydiscusswhatoneknowsandwhatoneneverwillknowandwhatonehadmuchbetternotknow。Herbertsaysitisbecausetheyhavenotgotenoughtodo。——Everyourgratefulandaffectionatefriend，AgnesPembrokeShelthorpe，9SawstonParkRoadSawstonDearMr。Silt，——
　　Thankyouforthecongratulations，whichIhavehandedovertothedelightedRickie。
　　（ThecongratulationswerereallyaddressedtoAgnes——asocialblunderwhichMr。Pembrokedeftlycorrects。）
　　IamsorrythattherumorreachedyouthatIwasnotpleased。
　　Anythingpleasesmethatpromisesmysister’shappiness，andI
　　haveknownyourcousinnearlyaslongasyouhave。Itwillbeaverylongengagement，forhemustmakehiswayfirst。Thedearboyisnotnearlyaswealthyashesupposed;havingnotastes，andhardlyanyexpenses，heusedtotalkasifhewereamillionaire。Hemustatleastdoublehisincomebeforehecandreamofmoreintimateties。Thishasbeenabitterpill，butI
　　amgladtosaythattheyhaveaccepteditbravely。
　　HopingthatyouandMrs。SiltwillprofitbyyourweekatMargate。—Iremain，yoursverysincerely，HerbertPembrokeCadover，Wilts。
　　Dear{MissPembroke，{Agnes—
　　Ihearthatyouaregoingtomarrymynephew。Ihavenoideawhatheislike，andwonderwhetheryouwouldbringhimthatImayfindout。Isn’tSeptemberratheranicemonth？YoumighthavetogotoStoneHenge，butwiththatexceptionwouldbeleftunmolested。Idohopeyouwillmanagethevisit。WemetonceatMrs。Lewin’s，andIhaveaveryclearrecollectionofyou。——
　　Believeme，yourssincerely，EmilyFailingX
　　Theraintiltedalittlefromthesouth—west。Forthemostpartitfellfromagreycloudsilently，butnowandthenthetiltincreased，andakindofsighpassedoverthecountryasthedropslashedthewalls，trees，shepherds，andothermotionlessobjectsthatstoodintheirslantingcareer。Attimesthecloudwoulddescendandvisiblyembracetheearth，towhichithadonlysentmessages;andtheearthitselfwouldbringforthclouds——cloudsofawhiterbreed——whichformedinshallowvalleysandfollowedthecoursesofthestreams。Itseemedthebeginningoflife。AgainGodsaid，"Shallwedividethewatersfromthelandornot？Wasnotthefirmamentlabourandglorysufficient？"Atalleventsitwasthebeginningoflifepastoral，behindwhichimaginationcannottravel。
　　Yetcomplicatedpeopleweregettingwet——notonlytheshepherds。
　　Forinstance，thepiano—tunerwassopping。Sowasthevicar’swife。SowerethelieutenantandthepeevishdamselsinhisBattlestoncar。Gallantry，charity，andartpursuedtheirvariousmissions，perspiringandmuddy，whileoutontheslopesbeyondthemstoodtheeternalmanandtheeternaldog，guardingeternalsheepuntiltheworldisvegetarian。
　　Insideanarbour——whichfacedeast，andthusavoidedthebadweather——theresatacomplicatedpersonwhowasdry。Shelookedatthedrenchedworldwithapleasedexpression，andwouldsmilewhenacloudwouldlaydownonthevillage，orwhentherainsighedlouderthanusualagainsthersolidshelter。Ink，paperclips，andfoolscappaperwereonthetablebeforeher，andshecouldalsoreachanumbrella，awaterproof，awalking—stick，andanelectricbell。Heragewasbetweenelderlyandold，andherforeheadwaswrinkledwithanexpressionofslightbutperpetualpain。Butthelinesroundhermouthindicatedthatshehadlaughedagreatdealduringherlife，justasthecleantightskinroundhereyesperhapsindicatedthatshehadnotoftencried。Shewasdressedinbrownsilk。Abrownsilkshawllaymostbecominglyoverherbeautifulhair。
　　Afterlongthoughtshewroteonthepaperinfrontofher，"ThesubjectofthismemoirfirstsawthelightatWolverhamptononMaythe14th，1842。"Shelaiddownherpenandsaid"Ugh！"A
　　robinhoppedinandshewelcomedhim。Asparrowfollowedandshestampedherfoot。Shewatchedsomethickwhitewaterwhichwasslidinglikeasnakedownthegutterofthegravelpath。Ithadjustappeared。Itmusthaveescapedfromahollowinthechalkupbehind。Theearthcouldabsorbnolonger。Theladydidnotthinkofallthis，forshehatedquestionsofwhenceandwherefore，andthewaysoftheearth（"ourdullstepmother"）boredherunspeakably。Butthewater，justthesnakeofwater，wasamusing，andsheflunghergoloshatittodamitup。Thenshewrotefeverishly，"Thesubjectofthismemoirfirstsawthelightinthemiddleofthenight。Itwastwentytoeleven。Hispawasaparson，buthewasnothispa’sson，andneverwenttoheaven。"
　　Therewasthesoundofatrain，andpresentlywhitesmokeappeared，risinglaboriouslythroughtheheavyair。Itdistractedher，andforaboutaquarterofanhourshesatperfectlystill，doingnothing。Atlastshepushedthespoiltpaperaside，tookafreshpiece，andwasbeginningtowrite，"OnMaythe14th，1842，"whentherewasacrunchonthegravel，andafuriousvoicesaid，"IamsorryforFleaThompson。"
　　"IdaresayIamsorryforhimtoo，"saidthelady;hervoicewaslanguidandpleasant。"Whoishe？"
　　"Flea’saliar，andthenexttimewemeethe’llbeafootball。"
　　Offslippedasoddenulster。Hehungitupangrilyuponapeg:
　　thearbourprovidedseveral。
　　"Butwhoishe，andwhyhashethatdisastrousname？"
　　"Flea？Fleance。AlltheThompsonsarenamedoutofShakespeare。
　　HegrazestheRings。"
　　"Ah，Isee。Apetlamb。"
　　"Lamb！Shepherd！"
　　"OneofmyShepherds？"
　　"ThelasttimeIgowithhissheep。Butnotthelasttuneheseesme。Iamsorryforhim。Hedodgedmetoday，"
　　"Doyoumeantosay"——shebecameanimated——"thatyouhavebeenoutinthewetkeepingthesheepofFleaThompson？"
　　"Ihadto。"Heblewonhisfingersandtookoffhiscap。Watertrickledoverhisunshavencheeks。Hishairwassowetthatitseemedworkeduponhisscalpinbronze。
　　"Getaway，baddog！"screamedthelady，forhehadgivenhimselfashakeandspatteredherdresswithwater。Hewasapowerfulboyoftwenty，admirablymuscular，butrathertoobroadforhisheight。Peoplecalledhim"Podge"untiltheyweredissuaded。Thentheycalledhim"Stephen"or"Mr。Wonham。"Thenhesaid，"YoucancallmePodgeifyoulike。"
　　"AsforFlea——！"hebegantempestuously。Hesatdownbyher，andwithmuchheavybreathingtoldthestory，——"FleahasagirlatWintersbridge，andIhadtogowithhissheepwhilehewenttoseeher。Twohours。Weagreed。Halfanhourtogo，anhourtokisshisgirl，andhalfanhourback——andhehadmybike。Fourhours！FourhoursandsevenminutesIwasontheRings，withafoolofadog，andsheepdoingalltheyknewtogettheturnips。"
　　"Myfarmisamysterytome，"saidthelady，strokingherfingers。
　　"Somedayyoumustreallytakemetoseeit。ItmustbelikeaGilbertandSullivanopera，withachorusofagitatedemployers。
　　HowisitthatIhaveescaped？WhyhaveIneverbeensummonedtomilkthecows，orflaythepigs，ordrivetheyoungbullockstothepasture？"
　　Helookedatherwithastonishinglyblueeyes——theonlydrythingshehadabouthim。Hecouldnotseeintoher:shewouldhavepuzzledanolderandcleverman。Hemayhaveseenroundher。
　　"Athingofbeautyyouarenot。ButIsometimesthinkyouareajoyforever。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon？"
　　"Oh，youunderstandrightenough，"sheexclaimedirritably，andthensmiled，forhewasconceited，anddidnotlikebeingtoldthathewasnotathingofbeauty。"Largeandsteadyfeet，"shecontinued，"havethisdisadvantage——youcanknockdownaman，butyouwillneverknockdownawoman。"
　　"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。I’mnotlikely——"
　　"Oh，nevermind——never，nevermind。Iwasbeingfunny。Irepent。
　　Tellmeaboutthesheep。Whydidyougowiththem？"
　　"Ididtellyou。Ihadto。"
　　"Butwhy？"
　　"Hehadtoseehisgirl。"
　　"Butwhy？"
　　Hiseyesshotpastheragain。Itwassoobviousthatthemanhadtoseehisgirl。Fortwohoursthough——notforfourhourssevenminutes。
　　"Didyouhaveanylunch？"
　　"Idon’tholdwithregularmeals。"
　　"Didyouhaveabook？"
　　"Idon’tholdwithbooksintheopen。Noneoftheoldermenread。"
　　"Didyoucommunewithyourself，ordon’tyouholdwiththat？"
　　"OhLord，don’taskme！"
　　"Youdistressme。YourobthePastoralofitslingeringromance。
　　IstherenopoetryandnothoughtinEngland？Istherenoone，inallthesedowns，whowarbleswitheagerthoughttheDoriclay？"
　　"Chapssingtothemselvesattimes，ifyoumeanthat。"
　　"IdreamofArcady。Iopenmyeyes。Wiltshire。OfAmaryllis:FleaThompson’sgirl。Ofthepensiveshepherd，twitchinghismantleblue:youinanulster。Aren’tyousorryforme？"
　　"MayIputinapipe？"
　　"Byallmeansputapipein。Inreturn，tellmeofwhatyouwerethinkingforthefourhoursandthesevenminutes。"
　　Helaughedshyly。"Youdoaskamansuchquestions。"
　　"Didyousimplywastethetime？"
　　"Isupposeso。"
　　"IthoughtthatColonelRobertIngersollsaysyoumustbestrenuous。"
　　Atthesoundofthisnamehewhiskedopenalittlecupboard，anddeclaring，"Ihaven’tamomenttospare，"tookoutofitapileof"Clarion"andotherreprints，adornedastotheircoverswithbaldorbeardedapostlesofhumanity。Selectingabaldone，hebeganatoncetoread，occasionallyexclaiming，"That’sgotthem，""That’sknockedGenesis，"withsimilarejaculationsofanaspiringmind。Sheglancedatthepile。Reran，minusthestyle。
　　Darwin，minusthemodesty。AcomiceditionofthebookofJob，by"Excelsior，"Pittsburgh，Pa。"TheBeginningofLife，"withdiagrams。"AngelorApe？"byMrs。JuliaP。Chunk。Shewasamused，andwonderedidlywhatwaspassingwithinhisnarrowbutnotuninterestingbrain。Didhesupposethathewasgoingto"findout"？Shehadtriedonceherself，buthadsincesubsidedintoasprightlyorthodoxy。Whydidn’thereadpoetry，insteadofwastinghistimebetweenbooksliketheseandcountrylikethat？
　　Thecloudparted，andtheincreaseoflightmadeherlookup。
　　Overthevalleyshesawagravesullendown，andonitsflanksalittlebrownsmudge——hersheep，togetherwithhershepherd，FleanceThompson，returnedtohisdutiesatlast。Atrickleofwatercamethroughthearbourroof。Sheshriekedindismay。
　　"That’sallright，"saidhercompanion，movingherchair，butstillkeepinghisplaceinhisbook。
　　Shedriedupthespotonthemanuscript。Thenshewrote:"AnthonyEustaceFailing，thesubjectofthismemoir，wasbornatWolverhampton。"Butshewrotenomore。Shewasfidgety。Anotherdropfellfromtheroof。Likewiseanearwig。Shewishedshehadnotbeensoplayfulinflinginghergoloshintothepath。Theboywhowasoverthrowingreligionbreathedsomewhatheavilyashedidso。Anotherearwig。Shetouchedtheelectricbell。
　　"I’mgoingin，"sheobserved。"It’sfartoowet。"Againthecloudpartedandcausedhertoadd，"Weren’tyouratherkindtoFlea？"
　　Buthewasdeepinthebook。Hereadlikeapoorperson，withlipsapartandafingerthatfollowedtheprint。Attimeshescratchedhisear，orranhistonguealongastragglingblondemoustache。Hisfacehadafterallacertainbeauty:atalleventsthecolouringwasregal——asteadycrimsonfromthroattoforehead:thesunandthewindshadworkedonhimdailyeversincehewasborn。"Thefaceofastrongman，"thoughtthelady。
　　"Lethimthankhisstarsheisn’tasilentstrongman，orI’dturnhimintothegutter。"SuddenlyitstruckherthathewaslikeanIrishterrier。Heworriedinfinityasifitwasabone。
　　Gnashinghisteeth，hetriedtocarrytheeternalsubtletiesbyviolence。Asamanheoftenboredher，forhewasalwayssayinganddoingthesamethings。Butasaphilosopherhereallywasajoyforever，aninexhaustiblebuffoon。Takingupherpen，shebegantocaricaturehim。Shedrewarabbit—warrenwhererabbitswereatplayinfourdimensions。Beforeshehadintroducedtheprincipalfigure，shewasinterruptedbythefootman。Hehadcomeupfromthehousetoanswerthebell。Onseeingherheutteredarespectfulcry。
　　"Madam！Areyouhere？Iamverysorry。Ilookedforyoueverywhere。Mr。ElliotandMissPembrokearrivednearlyanhourago。"
　　"Ohdear，ohdear！"exclaimedMrs。Failing。"Takethesepapers。
　　Where’stheumbrella？Mr。Stephenwillholditoverme。Youhurrybackandapologize。Aretheyhappy？"
　　"MissPembrokeinquiredafteryou，madam。"
　　"Havetheyhadtea？"
　　"Yes，madam。"
　　"Leighton！"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Ibelieveyouknewshewashereallthetime。Youdidn’twanttowetyourprettyskin。"
　　"Youmustnotcallme’she’totheservants，"saidMrs。Failingastheywalkedaway，shelimpingwithastick，heholdingagreatumbrellaoverher。"Iwillnothaveit。"Thenmorepleasantly，"Anddon’ttellhimhelies。Wealllie。Iknewquitewelltheywerecomingbythefour—sixtrain。Isawitpass。"
　　"Thatremindsme。AnotherchildrunoverattheRomancrossing。
　　Whish——bang——dead。"
　　"Ohmyfoot！Ohmyfoot，myfoot！"saidMrs。Failing，andpausedtotakebreath。
　　"Bad？"heaskedcallously。
　　Leighton，withbowedhead，passedthemwiththemanuscriptanddisappearedamongthelaurels。Thetwingeofpain，whichhadbeenslight，passedaway，andtheyproceeded，descendingagreenairlesscorridorwhichopenedintothegraveldrive。
　　"Isn’titodd，"saidMrs。Failing，"thattheGreeksshouldbeenthusiasticaboutlaurels——thatApolloshouldpursueanyonewhocouldpossiblyturnintosuchafrightfulplant？WhatdoyoumakeofRickie？"
　　"Oh，Idon’tknow。"
　　"ShallIlendyouhisstorytoread？"
　　Hemadenoreply。
　　"Don’tyouthink，Stephen，thatapersoninyourprecariouspositionoughttobeciviltomyrelatives？"
　　"Sorry，Mrs。Failing。Imeanttobecivil。Ionlyhadn’t——
　　anythingtosay。"
　　Shealaughed。"Areyouadearboy？Isometimeswonder;orareyouabrute？"
　　Againhehadnothingtosay。Thenshelaughedmoremischievously，andsaid——
　　"Howcanyoubeeither，whenyouareaphilosopher？Wouldyoumindtellingme——Iamsoanxioustolearn——whathappenstopeoplewhentheydie？"
　　"Don’taskME。"Heknewbybitterexperiencethatshewasmakingfunofhim。
　　"Oh，butIdoaskyou。Thosepaperbooksofyoursaresoup—to—date。Forinstance，whathashappenedtothechildyousaywaskilledontheline？"
　　Therainincreased。Thedropspatteredhardontheleaves，andoutsidethecorridormenandwomenwerestruggling，howeverstupidly，withthefactsoflife。Insideittheywrangled。Sheteasedtheboy，andlaughedathistheories，andprovedthatnomancanbeanagnosticwhohasasenseofhumour。Suddenlyshestopped，notthroughanyskillofhis，butbecauseshehadrememberedsomewordsofBacon:"Thetrueatheistishewhosehandsarecauterizedbyholythings。"Shethoughtofherdistantyouth。Theworldwasnotsohumorousthen，butithadbeenmoreimportant。F-KanbaAPp点com-oramomentsherespectedhercompanion，anddeterminedtovexhimnomore。
　　Theylefttheshelterofthelaurels，crossedthebroaddrive，andwereinsidethehouseatlast。Shehadgotquitewet，fortheweatherwouldnotletherplaythesimplelifewithimpunity。Asforhim，heseemedapieceofthewet。
　　"Lookhere，"shecried，ashehurrieduptohisattic，"don’tshave！"
　　Hewasdelightedwiththepermission。
　　"IhaveanideathatMissPembrokeisofthetypethatpretendstobeunconventionalandreallyisn’t。Iwanttoseehowshetakesit。Don’tshave。"
　　Inthedrawing—roomshecouldheartheguestsconversinginthesubduedtonesofthosewhohavenotbeenwelcomed。HavingchangedherdressandglancedatthepoemsofMilton，shewenttothem，withupliftedhandsofapologyandhorror。
　　"ButImusthavetea，"sheannounced，whentheyhadassuredherthattheyunderstood。"OtherwiseIshallstartbybeingcross。
　　Agnes，stopme。Givemetea。"
　　Agnes，lookingpleased，movedtothetableandservedherhostess。Rickiefollowedwithapagodaofsandwichesandlittlecakes。
　　"Ifeeltwenty—sevenyearsyounger。Rickie，youaresolikeyourfather。Ifeelitistwenty—sevenyearsago，andthatheisbringingyourmothertoseemeforthefirsttime。Itiscurious——almostterrible——toseehistoryrepeatingitself。"
　　Theremarkwasnottactful。
　　"Irememberthatvisitwell，"shecontinuedthoughtfully，"I
　　supposeitwasawonderfulvisit，thoughwenoneofusknewitatthetime。Weallfellinlovewithyourmother。Iwishshewouldhavefalleninlovewithus。Shecouldn’tbearme，couldshe？"
　　"Ineverheardhersayso，AuntEmily。"
　　"No;shewouldn’t。Iamsureyourfathersaidso，though。Mydearboy，don’tlooksoshocked。YourfatherandIhatedeachother。
　　Hesaidso，Isaidso，Isayso;saysotoo。Thenweshallstartfair。——Justacocoanutcake。——Agnes，don’tyouagreethatit’salwaysbesttospeakout？"
　　"Oh，rather，Mrs。Failing。ButI’mshockinglystraightforward。"
　　"SoamI，"saidthelady。"Iliketogetdowntothebedrock。——
　　Hullo！Slippers？Slippersinthedrawingroom？"
　　Ayoungmanhadcomeinsilently。Agnesobservedwithafeelingofregretthathehadnotshaved。Rickie，afteramoment’shesitation，rememberedwhoitwas，andshookhandswithhim。
　　You’vegrownsinceIsawyoulast。"
　　Heshowedhisteethamiably。
　　"Howlongwasthat？"askedMrs。Failing。
　　"Threeyears，wasn’tit？CameoverfromtheAnsells——friends。"
　　"Howdisgraceful，Rickie！Whydon’tyoucomeandseemeoftener？"
　　Hecouldnotretortthatsheneveraskedhim。
　　"Agneswillmakeyoucome。Oh，letmeintroduceMr。Wonham——MissPembroke。"
　　"Iamdeputyhostess，"saidAgnes。"MayIgiveyousometea？"
　　"Thankyou，butIhavehadalittlebeer。"
　　"Itisoneoftheshepherds，"saidMrs。Failing，inlowtones。
　　Agnessmiledratherwildly。Mrs。LewinhadwarnedherthatCadoverwasanextraordinaryplace，andthatonemustneverbeastonishedatanything。Ashepherdinthedrawing—room！Noharm。
　　Stilloneoughttoknowwhetheritwasashepherdornot。Atalleventshewasingentleman’sclothing。Shewasanxiousnottostartwithablunder，andthereforedidnottalktotheyoungfellow，buttriedtogatherwhathewasfromthedemeanourofRickie。
　　"Iamsure，Mrs。Failing，thatyouneednottalkof’making’
　　peoplecometoCadover。Therewillbenodifficulty，Ishouldsay。"
　　"Thankyou，mydear。Doyouknowwhooncesaidthoseexactwordstome？"
　　"Who？"
　　"Rickie’smother。"
　　"Didshereally？"
　　"Mysister—in—lawwasadear。YouwillhaveheardRickie’spraises，butnowyoumusthearmine。Ineverknewawomanwhowassounselfishandyethadsuchcapacitiesforlife。"
　　"Doesonegenerallyexcludetheother？"askedRickie。
　　"Unselfishpeople，asarule，aredeathlydull。Theyhavenocolour。Theythinkofotherpeoplebecauseitiseasier。Theygivemoneybecausetheyaretoostupidortooidletospenditproperlyonthemselves。Thatwasthebeautyofyourmother——
　　shegaveaway，butshealsospentonherself，ortriedto。"