Love's cross-currents; a year's letters

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...felt warmly and fondly towards you; she was aware that I could not but know the way in which your conduct would affect her, Clara; and on your account, on mine (by no means, I need not say, on her own), she now felt--various things in the sensation line eminently creditable to her. I drew breath after this, and then laid hold of your letter. It did not upset me, you will like to hear; indeed, I compliment you on such a "selfless" and stainless form of devotion. You play Launcelot in a suit of Arthur's armour--or rather in his new clothes after the well-known cut of modern tailordom, which I grieve to see are already cast wear, or how should you come by them? The vividness and loftiness of view throughout is idyllic. In effect, considering your heat of head and violence of sentiment, I think you behave--and write--nicely, nobly even, if you like to be told so. It is right you should take things in the way you do, now you are first plunged into them. I am glad you do persuade yourself of the justice and reality of your passionate paradoxes and crude conceptions about social rights and wrongs. Naturally, being in love, like the bad specimen you are, you find institutions criminal, and revolt desirable. It is better, taking your age into account, than trying to sneak under shelter of them within reach of the forbidden fruit. Storm the place if you can, but no shooting behind walls; a good plan for you, as I am glad you see. Altogether, if you are cracked, I should say you have no unsound side; a fool you may be, but you get through your fooleries like a gentleman. You are "brave enough" too, as you said; it was no coward's letter, that one. I should not forgive you otherwise; but I was always sure, so far, of my old Redgie--you never had any...