Idostillrecallastheworstandmostdisastrousaspectofallthattime，herabsolutedisregardofherownbeauty。It’sthepettiestthingtorecord，Iknow，butshecouldwearcurl-papersinmypresence。Itwasheridea，too，to“wearout“heroldclothesandherfailuresathomewhen“noonewaslikelytoseeher“——“noone“beingmyself。Sheallowedmetoaccumulateastoreofungraciousandslovenlymemories。
Allourconceptionsoflifediffered。Irememberhowwedifferedaboutfurniture。WespentthreeorfourdaysinTottenhamCourtRoad，andshechosethethingsshefanciedwithaninexorableresolution，——sweepingasidemysuggestionswith——“Oh，YOUwantsuchqueerthings。”Shepursuedsomelimited，clearlyseenandexperiencedideal——thatexcludedallotherpossibilities。Overeverymantelwasamirrorthatwasdraped，oursideboardwaswonderfullygoodandsplendidwithbeveledglass，wehadlampsonlongmetalstalksandcozycornersandplantsingrog-tubs。
Smithieapproveditall。Therewasn’taplacewhereonecouldsitandreadinthewholehouse。Mybookswentuponshelvesinthedining-roomrecess。AndwehadapianothoughMarion’splayingwasatanelementarylevel。
Youknow，itwasthecruelestluckforMarionthatI，withmyrestlessness，myscepticism，myconstantlydevelopingideas，hadinsistedonmarriagewithher。Shehadnofacultyofgrowthorchange；shehadtakenhermould，shehadsetinthelimitedideasofherpeculiarclass。Shepreservedherconceptionofwhatwasrightindrawing-roomchairsandinmarriageceremonialandineveryrelationoflifewithasimpleandluminoushonestyandconviction，withanimmenseunimaginativeinflexibility——asatailor-birdbuildsitsnestorabeavermakesitsdam。
Letmehastenoverthishistoryofdisappointmentsandseparation。Imighttellofwaxingsandwaningoflovebetweenus，butthewholewaswaning。Sometimesshewoulddothingsforme，makemeatieorapairofslippers，andfillmewithnonethelessgratitudebecausethethingswereabsurd。Sheranourhomeandouroneservantwithahard，brightefficiency。Shewasinordinatelyproudofhouseandgarden。Always，byherlights，shedidherdutybyme。