Status Updates From Lavender and Old Lace

“I’ve picked up what education I have,”he went on. “I have nothing to give you Ruth, but these-“ he held out his hands- “and my heart.”
“That’s all I want, dearest - don’t tell me anymore!”

I was confused for a minute but then everything made sense. I’m not sure why Myrtle Reed writes like this but it is very interesting, and not necessarily in a bad way. Sometimes (but not always), she looses context and you are left wondering why our character is crying after hearing some others talk about nothing tear worthy.
I realize she wrote this book in the early 1900’s but I wish I could ask her questions.

“My dear Mr. Winfield,” returned Ruth pleasantly, “you’re not only tactful, but modest. I never met a man whose temperament so nearly approached the unassuming violet. I’m afraid you’ll never be appreciated in this world.-youu’re too good for it. You must learn to put yourself forward. I expect it will be a shock to your sensitive nature, but it’s got to be done.”

Please don’t be unkind to meYou have my reason inyour hands Ican see myself now sitting onthe floor at oneend of the dangerous ward.They’ll smear myfingers with molasses and giveme half adozen feathers toplay withYou’ll come tovisit the asylum sometime when you’re looking for aspecial and at first you won’t recognize meThen I’ll say’woman behold your work’and you’ll be miserable the rest ofyour life

“Then, too, we never have any more than we can bear-nothing that has not been borne before, and bravely at that. There isn’t a new sorrow in the world-they’re all old ones-but we can all find new happiness if we look in the right way.”
The voice had a full music, instinct with tenderness, and gradually Ruth’s troubled spirit was eased.

I always suppose tears were signs of sorrow he said
Far from it laugh Ruth when I get very angry, I cry and then I get angrier because I’m crying and cry hard harder
That opens up afearful possibility what would happen if you kept getting angrier because you were crying and crying harder because yougot angrier
I have no idea Sheanswered with her dark eyes six upon him, but it’s apromising field for investigation

Fate plays us many tricks and assumes strange forms, but Ruth knew that someday on that New England hill, she would come face-to-face with a destiny that had been ordained from the beginning. Something waited for her there-some great change. She trembled at the thought, but was not afraid.

“Miss Thorne,” said Hepsey at her elbow, “is that your beau?” it was not impertinence, but sheer friendly interest which could not be mistaken for anything else.
“No,” she answered, “of course not”
“He’s real nice-lookin’ ain’t he”
“Yes”
“Have you got your eye on anybody else?”
“No”
“Then Miss Thorne, I don’t know’s you could do better”
“Perhaps not,”
💕

“I’m not afraid of anything else,”she answered, “except burglars and green worms.”
“Carlton would enjoy the classification really, Miss Thorne, somebody should tell him, don’t you think? So much innocent pleasure doesn’t come into the day of a busy man.”
For a moment, Ruth was angry and then at once she knew Winfield as if he had always been her friend.

“Sometimes I’m conscious of two selves - one of me is a nice, polite person that I’m really fond of, and the other is so contrary and so mulish that I’m actually afraid of her when the two come in conflict, the stubborn one always wins. I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.”
“Don’t you think we’re all like that? I do not believe anyone can have strength of character without being stubborn.”

This book is giving surprising gothic vibes right now. Kinda feeling scared

Part two
“… and where the light, careless laughter of gay bohemia lingered until dawn. At night who has not heard ghostly steps upon the stairs, the soft closing of unseen doors, the tapping on a window, and, per chance, a sigh, or the sound of tears? timid souls may shutter and be afraid, but why is your folk smile, with reminiscent tenderness, when the old house dreams.”

Part 1 of 2
“Have not our houses, yet as they are, their own way of conveying an impression? one may go into a house which has been empty for a long time, and yet, feel instinctively, what sort of people were last sheltered there. the silent walls breathe a message to each visitor, and as the falls echo in the bare, cheers rooms, one discovers where sorrow and trouble had their abode…”