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“Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it.”
I have sat helpless (in spite of my abilities) ever since; seeing what Robinson Crusoe saw, as quoted above—namely, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it.
I had another reason, likewise, entirely of my own discovering. Selina, being a single woman, made me pay so much a week for her board and services. Selina, being my wife, couldn’t charge for her board, and would have to give me her services for nothing.
Bruh
And what did Selina say? Lord! how little you must know of women, if you ask that. Of course she said, Yes.
I dont like this character
I have compared notes with other men as to what they felt while they were in my interesting situation; and they have all acknowledged that, about a week before it happened, they privately wished themselves out of it.
Prince charming here
After five years of misunderstandings on the stairs, it pleased an all-wise Providence to relieve us of each other by taking my wife.
Poor wife
He was, out of all sight (as I remember him), the nicest boy that ever spun a top or broke a window. Miss Rachel, who was present, and to whom I made that remark, observed, in return, that she remembered him as the most atrocious tyrant that ever tortured a doll, and the hardest driver of an exhausted little girl in string harness that England could produce. “I burn with indignation, and I ache with fatigue,” was the way Miss Rachel summed it up, “when I think of Franklin Blake.”
Nancy (who has a fine appetite) looked pleased. When she looks pleased, she looks nice. When she looks nice, I chuck her under the chin. It isn’t immorality—it’s only habit.
gross
Persons and Things do turn up so vexatiously in this life, and will in a manner insist on being noticed.
You have heard of beautiful young ladies falling in love at first sight, and have thought it natural enough. But a housemaid out of a reformatory, with a plain face and a deformed shoulder, falling in love, at first sight, with a gentleman who comes on a visit to her mistress’s house, match me that, in the way of an absurdity, out of any story-book in Christendom, if you can!
I laughed till the tears rolled down my cheeks. Penelope resented my merriment, in rather a strange way. “I never knew you cruel before, father,” she said, very gently, and went out.
Yes call him out!
You think Mr. Franklin Blake hasn’t got a suspicion of the girl’s fancy for him? Ah! he would have found it out fast enough if she had been nice-looking. The ugly women have a bad time of it in this world; let’s hope it will be made up to them in another.
Why are they so rude to her my god
“In my line of life if we were quick at taking offence, we shouldn’t be worth salt to our porridge. If it’s any comfort to you, collar me again. You don’t in the least know how to do it; but I’ll overlook your awkwardness in consideration of your feelings.”
lol
But it is a maxim of mine that men (being superior creatures) are bound to improve women—if they can. When a woman wants me to do anything (my daughter, or not, it doesn’t matter), I always insist on knowing why. The oftener you make them rummage their own minds for a reason, the more manageable you will find them in all the relations of life. It isn’t their fault (poor wretches!) that they act first and think afterwards; it’s the fault of the fools who humour them.
Oh fuck off
Sergeant Cuff tried the boot in the footsteps, and always found it pointing the same way—straight to the rocks. Hunt as he might, no sign could he find anywhere of the footsteps walking from them.
Noooooo
“You have often forgiven me, Mr. Betteredge, in past times. When you next see the Shivering Sand, try to forgive me once more. I have found my grave where my grave was waiting for me. I have lived, and died, sir, grateful for your kindness.”
:(
Sergeant Cuff took a step nearer to me—meaning kindly, I don’t doubt. I shrank back from him. “Don’t touch me,” I said. “It’s the dread of you, that has driven her to it.”
YES
People in high life have all the luxuries to themselves—among others, the luxury of indulging their feelings. People in low life have no such privilege.
I am an average good Christian, when you don’t push my Christianity too far.
I am (thank God!) constitutionally superior to reason.
Lol
Cultivate a superiority to reason, and see how you pare the claws of all the sensible people when they try to scratch you for your own good!
You choose a cigar, you try it, and it disappoints you. What do you do upon that? You throw it away and try another. Now observe the application! You choose a woman, you try her, and she breaks your heart. Fool! take a lesson from your cigar-case. Throw her away, and try another!”
ladies, in "what are we today?" we are cigars!
“In the time of the late Mrs. Betteredge,” I said, “I felt pretty often inclined to try your philosophy, Mr. Franklin. But the law insists on your smoking your cigar, sir, when you have once chosen it.”
I had a plan for our going to London together like sisters, and living by our needles. That man came here, and spoilt it all. He bewitched her. Don’t tell me he didn’t mean it, and didn’t know it. He ought to have known it.
:(
“Where’s this gentleman that I mustn’t speak of, except with respect? Ha, Mr. Betteredge, the day is not far off when the poor will rise against the rich. I pray Heaven they may begin with him. I pray Heaven they may begin with him.”
THE DISCOVERY OF THE TRUTH (1848-1849)
It has to be Franklin.. Thats why Rachel is keeping quiet
“Will you favour me by accepting a tract?” She looked at the title. “Is it written by a man or a woman, Miss? If it’s written by a woman, I had rather not read it on that account. If it’s written by a man, I beg to inform him that he knows nothing about it.”
and an element of worldly disturbance entered the room, in the person of Miss Verinder.
We must not judge others. My Christian friends, indeed, indeed, indeed, we must not judge others!
She says while being the most judgemental in the room
“Considering that Mr. Luker is only a chance acquaintance of yours, you take up his cause, Godfrey, rather warmly.”
Sorrow and sympathy! Oh, what Pagan emotions to expect from a Christian Englishwoman anchored firmly on her faith!
Is she convincing herself by repeating this over and over?
“I won’t even rise from my knees, till you have said yes!”
No.
“You won’t hurry me, Godfrey?” “My time shall be yours.” “You won’t ask me for more than I can give?” “My angel! I only ask you to give me yourself.” “Take me!”
Girl.. He just used your poor mental state for his own gains
and then he told the rest of us that Lady Verinder was no more.
Oh shit
My aunt had died without opening one of the letters which I had addressed to her. I was so shocked at this, that it never occurred to me, until some days afterwards, that she had also died without giving me my little legacy.
I hate this character
But it was impossible (with my religious views) to rouse myself in a few days only from the shock which this death had caused me.
“I shall never marry Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite.”
Dramaaa
“Who—who—who,” he said, stammering with rage, “who asked this impudent fanatic into the house? Did you?”
thank God nobody likes her lol
have a last word to say, which I should have said some time since, if this——” He looked my way, pondering what abominable name he should call me—“if this Rampant Spinster had not interrupted us.
yes, yes, more insults let's goooo
He stopped, and looked round at my corner. I sat there quite immovable, with my tracts at my elbow and with Miss Jane Ann Stamper on my lap. “You know,” he resumed, turning back again to Rachel, “that it was part of your poor mother’s fine nature always to see the best of the people about her, and never the worst.
Help hahaha
“Come away, for God’s sake, before that woman can say any more! Oh, think of my poor mother’s harmless, useful, beautiful life! You were at the funeral, Mr. Bruff; you saw how everybody loved her; you saw the poor helpless people crying at her grave over the loss of their best friend. And that wretch stands there, and tries to make me doubt that my mother, who was an angel on earth, is an angel in heaven now!
Miss Verinder had her own private reason for breaking her marriage engagement—and I was at the bottom of it. Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite had his own private reason for withdrawing all claim to the hand of his charming cousin—and I discovered what it was.
He smiled resignedly, and gave up the name of his client: Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite.
ooooh Shifty
Would Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite hold to his engagement, after what his lawyer had discovered for him?
Godfrey is so gross
“You can’t brave public opinion,” I said, “at the command of private feeling.”
Contributed by FRANKLIN BLAKE
I think he took the stone and gave it to Ablewhite, but does he remember or know?
The letter with the mourning border was the letter that I opened first. It informed me that my father was dead, and that I was heir to his great fortune.
Dun du dun, another one bites the dust
There have been sad changes, since you went away. The house is shut up, and the servants are gone.
“There has been an event, sir, in the police-circles, since you went away. The great Cuff has retired from business. He has got a little cottage at Dorking; and he’s up to his eyes in the growing of roses. I have it in his own handwriting, Mr. Franklin. He has grown the white moss rose, without budding it on the dog-rose first. And Mr. Begbie the gardener is to go to Dorking, and own that the Sergeant has beaten him at last.”
