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And yet at the same time that shewanted freedom she wanted certainty.
It was a
signal of despair, a sign thatthe end was in sight. I do try, he said, but he
addedsomething which made me doubt whether he understood me.
For Imlay, the
fascinating American to whom herletter was addressed, had been very good to
her.
Thehours were theirs from sunrise to sunset, and could be altered tosuit
the season. He lost and won and vowed never toplay again, and then he did play
again. She could trip lightly bythe graves of those who died when they were
young.
Andsometimes she forgot to look at the sunset and looked instead atthe
Baron Wolzogen. Heshillied and shallied; he was very charming when they met;
then hedisappeared again. People objected to his presence in the dining-roomof
the hotel.
I do try, he said, but he addedsomething which made me doubt whether
he understood me. Andsometimes she forgot to look at the sunset and looked
instead atthe Baron Wolzogen.
Indeed, she discoveredthat she was passionately
domestic. The cottage, though its garden ran up into the fells, was on
thehighroad. I do notwant to be loved like a goddess, she wrote, but I wish to
benecessary to you. TheBeau had to fall back upon the resources of his own
mind. And he went further; he saidthat if another man liked your wife this will
create nodifficulty. He had downedthe Regent himself with his dexterous Whos
your fat friend? Thusthey settled it, and the plan worked admirably.
Rydale was
very beautiful, with spear-shapedstreaks of polished steel.
And now a curious
process of disintegration set in. It was a signal of despair, a sign thatthe
end was in sight.
She was going to come down to dinner the day after herchild
was born. Rydale was very beautiful, with spear-shapedstreaks of polished
steel.
He would go on hammering at a poem untilDorothy was afraid to suggest an
alteration. The staple of her doctrine was that nothing mattered
saveindependence.
She could not understand even her own feelings.
For Imlay,
the fascinating American to whom herletter was addressed, had been very good to
her.
Yet skill of hand and nicety of judgment were not enough.
And then her
lettersfollowed him, torturing him with their sincerity and their insight. She
was going to come down to dinner the day after herchild was born.
Lady Louisa
mightwell have wondered why a Mr. William and Nature and Dorothy herself, were
they notone being?
A little actress ina strolling company was his mistress, she
learnt.
He lost and won and vowed never toplay again, and then he did play
again.
Now the battle of Waterloo had beenfought and peace had come.
I am going
tobed, the letter ended, and, for the first time in my life, Icannot put out
the candle.
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