CHAPTER IX 

DEFEAT OF MIRIAM 

PAUL was dissatisfied with himself and with everything. The deepest of his love belonged to his mother. When he felt he had hurt her, or wounded his love for her, he could not bear it. Now it was spring, and there was battle between him and Miriam. This year he had a good deal against her. She was vaguely aware of it. The old feeling that she was to be a sacrifice to this love, which she had had when she prayed, was mingled in all her emotions. She did not at the bottom believe she ever would have him. She did not believe in herself primarily: doubted whether she could ever be what he would demand of her. Certainly she never saw herself living happily through a lifetime with him. She saw tragedy, sorrow, and sacrifice ahead. And in sacrifice she was proud, in renunciation she was strong, for she did not trust herself to support everyday life. She was prepared for the big things and the deep things, like tragedy. It was the sufficiency of the small day-life she could not trust. 

The Easter holidays began happily. Paul was his own frank self. Yet she felt it would go wrong. On the Sunday afternoon she stood at her bedroom window, looking across at the oak-trees of the wood, in whose branches a twilight was tangled, below the bright sky of the afternoon. Grey-green rosettes of honeysuckle leaves hung before the window, some already, she fancied, showing bud. It was spring, which she loved and dreaded.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who was Paul most fond of?
2. Who held the most important place in Paul's heart?
3. 
Q2:
1. What is the season when the passage is taking place?
2. What time of year is it?
3. 
Q3:
1. Who is Paul in conflict with?
2. With whom does Paul have a disagreement?
3. 
Q4:
1. Did Miriam believe she could have Paul?
2. Was Miriam of the opinion that Paul would be hers?
3. 
Q5:
1. What did Miram believe her relationship would bring?
2. What did Miriam imagine would be the outcome of her relationship?
3. 
Q6:
1. What kind of plants were growing outside of Miriam's window?
2. What sort of plants could be found outside where Miriam lived?
3. 
Q7:
1. What was the location of the oak trees?
2. Where could the oak trees be found?
3. 
Q8:
1. Did Miriam have mixed emotions about the spring?
2. Was Miriam not sure how to feel about spring?
3. 
Q9:
1. How did Miriam feel about spring?
2. What were Miriam's emotions towards spring?
3. 
Q10:
1. What besides the oak trees were near Miriam's window?
2. What could be found close to Miriam's window, other than the oak trees?
3. 
Q11:
1. What was the color of the rosettes?
2. What shade were the roses?
3. 
