David and Porthos Compared

           ButMaryspoiltitall,whenIsentDavidbacktoherinthemorning,byinquiringtoocuriouslyintohispersonanddiscoveringthatIhadputhiscombinationsonhimwiththebuttonstothefront.ForthisIwroteherthefollowinginsultingletter.WhenMarydoesanythingthatspeciallyannoysmeIsendheraninsultingletter.IoncehadaphotographtakenofDavidbeinghangedonatree.Isentherthat.Youcan’tthinkofallthesubtlewaysofgrievingherIhave.Nowomanwiththespiritofacrowwouldstandit.

           “DearMadam[Iwrote],IthascometomyknowledgethatwhenyouwalkintheGardenswiththeboyDavidyoulistenavidlyforencomiumsofhimandofyourfancifuldressingofhimbypassers-by,storingtheminyourheartthewhileyoumakevainpretencetoregardthemnot:whereforelestyoubeswollenbytheseverysmallthingsI,whonowknowDavidbothbydayandbynight,ammindedtocomparehimandPorthostheonewiththeother,bothinthismatterandinothermattersofgraveraccount.Andtouchingthismatterofoutwardshow,theyarebothverylordly,andneitherofthemlikesittobereferredto,buttheyendureindifferentways.ForDavidsays’Oh,bother!’andevenattimeshitsout,butPorthosdroopshistailandletsthemhavetheirsay.YetisheextolledasbeautifulandadarlingtentimesfortheoncethatDavidisextolled.