Status Updates From Begin Again

“And-and—(the normal conclusion to this train of reflection was of course “And nobody is paying any attention to me,” but Sylvia was not always as honest with herself as she imagined. She thought instead, “And I shouldn’t wonder if my ankle isn’t pretty badly sprained,” and nearly believed herself.”

““Darling,” said Henry fervently, and meant by it “I’ll never love anybody as much as you, I’ll never be happier than I am now.”

“Darling,” said Jane, and meant “I’m so glad I haven’t said anything to hurt you yet, because when you look so happy I feel so terribly sorry for you.”

Poor clingy Henry-already over! “Well, anyway, thought Jane suddenly, whatever happens in the end and even when it’s all over and I’m in love with some one else—Henry will always be the nicest man I have ever known.”

“Mrs. Fisher sighed. Children on whom one gladly lavished time and money with no motive at heart but their happiness; children who, imagining fetters where none existed, broke away exulting, drunk with the illusion of escape.” Leslie is annoying!

“He extracted a certain grim humour from the picture of Sylvia, clad in expensive simplicity, well-nourished from the excellent meals prepared in her father’s household, standing in her pretty, unpractical highheeled shoes on the lawn before him and assuring him of the utter unimportance of property and money. But beneath his amusement his baffled generosity irked him. Silly, silly little girl!” -Sylvia’s poor dad!

“Heaven defend him from provoking his daughter to give him a fuller exposition of her views on marriage—he had, from time to time, heard enough of the “new morality” to be anxious to avoid at all costs further elucidation of this immoral rubbish. “I don’t think it would be fair to take your money under false pretences,” said Sylvia. There was no doubt that the idealism of youth could be extraordinarily irritating.”

By virtue of two daughters at home, Mrs. Perry, not unnaturally, considered herself daughter-bragging champion of the neighbourhood. (“But haven’t you ever wanted them to take up some work, Mrs. Perry?” “No, I can’t say I have. I don’t consider office-work a real life for a girl.”