Proper English

by K.J. Charles

It had seemed to her the perfect basis for marriage: a friendship combined with a job opening.

how this is literally the actual plot of {The Death of Jane Lawrence} THo

“She’s serious, but I don’t see why women shouldn’t be serious. It’s all very well to talk nonsense and do nothing all day, constantly dressing for breakfast and lunch and afternoon tea and dinner and going out and meeting people in order to talk about other people one met yesterday, but what is the point? Why do women want to waste their time on that?

“Now hold on,” Pat said, suddenly roused on Miss Carruth’s behalf. “If a woman is brought up to do nothing except get married and mix in society, it’s hardly fair to blame her for carrying out the job she was given.

“Saying what one means and not doing the pretty leads to one being considered eccentric, or mannerless, and that’s not awfully enjoyable.

Pat was very happy to sit or walk in silent companionship, but many people found that uncomfortable and were desperate to fill the void with noise.

things always seem more likely when we don’t want them to be true, and the more we fear it, the more inevitable it seems. Don’t you find?”