Sunday, September 22, 2013

English Blood and Manners

Conversation between John and George Knightley after several months of separation,  from the book Emma by Jane Austen:
". . .John Knightley made his appearance, and "How d'ye do, George?" and "John, how are you?" succeeded in the true English style, burying under a calmness that seemed all but indifference, the real attachment which would have led either of them, if requisite, to do every thing for the good of the other."

My blood is 9/32s English (as in from England) for whatever that counts for. But, I connected with this description because I have experienced it. Even when I haven't seen my siblings for a long time, and I have been jumping about all day/week long because I'm excited to see them but then when they finally come all they get is a "hi" and a tendency to stay in the same room. Maybe in that way we are a little more than 9/32s English.

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