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Experiments in Convalescence
ReadingbetweenthelinesIshouldimaginethatyourengagementtothisgirlismakingyouratherunhappy,andIseeyouhavelostallthefeelingofromancethatyouhadbeforethewar.Youmakeagreatmistakeifyouthinkyoucanberomanticwithoutreligion.SometimesIthinkthatwithbothofusthesecretofsuccess,whenwefindit,isthemysticalelementinus:somethingflowsintousthatenlargesourpersonalities,andwhenitebbsoutourpersonalitiesshrink;Ishouldcallyourlasttwolettersrathershrivelled.Bewareoflosingyourselfinthepersonalityofanotherbeing,manorwoman.
HisEminenceCardinalO’NeillandtheBishopofBostonarestayingwithmeatpresent,soitishardformetogetamomenttowrite,butIwishyouwouldcomeupherelaterifonlyforaweek-end.IgotoWashingtonthisweek.
WhatIshalldointhefutureishanginginthebalance.AbsolutelybetweenourselvesIshouldnotbesurprisedtoseetheredhatofacardinaldescenduponmyunworthyheadwithinthenexteightmonths.Inanyevent,IshouldliketohaveahouseinNewYorkorWashingtonwhereyoucoulddropinforweek-ends.
Amory,I’mverygladwe’rebothalive;thiswarcouldeasilyhavebeentheendofabrilliantfamily.Butinregardtomatrimony,youarenowatthemostdangerousperiodofyourlife.Youmightmarryinhasteandrepentatleisure,butIthinkyouwon’t.Fromwhatyouwritemeaboutthepresentcalamitousstateofyourfinances,whatyouwantisnaturallyimpossible
