I would eschew tobacco. I would pay, to the
uttermost farthing, any bachelor tax imposed by the State.'
'Do you so utterly abhor the idea of marriage?' I asked, profoundly
astonished.
'I do,' said William.
A strange sound broke on our ears. It seemed to come through the
keyhole, and resembled the contemptuous sniff with which Elizabeth
always expresses incredulity. But, of course, it couldn't have been
that.
As I have said, Elizabeth never listens at doors.
CHAPTER VII
(William--although he has a great regard for Pepys--does not himself
keep a diary. From time to time, however, he 'chronicles the
outstanding events in his career,' as he puts it. The following is one
of William's 'chronicles,' which shows more knowledge than I have of
the happenings in this chapter.)
_William's Story_: The more I think of it the more terrible the thing
becomes from every aspect. Who could have thought that I, only a few
days ago placidly drifting down the stream of life, should be jerked
into such a maelstrom of difficulties? I must, however, try to think
calmly. As Dr. Johnson has said, 'One of the principal themes of moral
instruction is the art of bearing calamities.'
Let me try to narrate the events in their order--to trace, as far as
possible, how this particular calamity occurred.
It began with Elizabeth. Or, I should say, she was the bearer of those
disastrous tidings which have robbed me of my peace of mind and given
me nights of sleepless horror.
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