2/12 I hate self-assertion; I am ashamed of self-advertisement. Probably I have too much tendency to negation of all sorts. Small-talk bores me to extinction, but I will discuss a point of ethics or psychology half the night. To make capital out of a person's weakness is repugnant to me. I want to be a decent man, but--I really can't take myself too seriously." Though he had preserved his politeness towards Cecilia, he was in truth angry, and grew angrier every minute. |