A Quiet Passion Page #4

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- Yes, Father.

- And in future,

you will conduct yourself in a manner

that is befitting the station in life

to which it has pleased God

to call you.

Yes, Father.

Goodnight, Emily.

Goodnight, Father.

This plate is dirty.

It is dirty no longer.

I wouldn't have gone that far.

If I had, Father would have packed me off

to a good military school

and Mother would have tearfully

embroidered something.

Ah. The eternal Miss Buffam.

Alas, no, sir.

Father Time knocks at my door also.

And what precautions do you take?

I contrive never to be at home

when he calls.

All women should aspire

to that state of readiness.

No. Women should only aspire to be

younger than their waistlines.

Then the unpleasant topic of age

becomes almost irrelevant.

And what should men aspire to?

Tobogganing.

And in warmer weather?

Philately. It has all the dangers of sport

without any of the rigour.

Your banter, Miss Buffam,

is, as always, delightful.

Take it, Mr Dickinson, as the mere

outpourings of a poor, tormented soul.

Ladies.

- Now you go too far.

- We were trying to be ironic.

- Come in.

- Will you come to church, Emily?

- No, Father.

- Why will you not come?

- God knows what is in my heart.

He doesn't require me to be in a pew

to remind Him.

I hope that remark

isn't as frivolous as it sounds.

Your soul is no trivial matter.

I agree, Father.

That's why I'm so meticulous

in guarding its independence.

I reckon - when I count out all -

First - poets - then the sun -

Then summer - then the Heaven of God

And then - the list is done -

But, looking back - the first so seems -

To comprehend the whole -

The others look a needless show -

So I write - poets - all -

Their summer - lasts a solid year -

They can afford a sun

The East - would deem extravagant -

And if the further heaven -

Be beautiful as they prepare

For those who worship them -

It is too difficult a grace -

To justify the dream -

- What is it?

- From Austin.

Likenesses of Austin

and his bride-to-be, Susan Gilbert.

Oh!

- Austin as handsome as ever.

- But she looks terrified.

We must welcome her and reassure her

we are not all forbidding.

Oh, Emily, my own!

This is a luxury that is almost Parisian.

Let's not be anything today

except superficial.

Yes. And superficiality

should always be spontaneous.

If it is studied,

it is too close to hypocrisy.

We may be superficial,

but we aren't stupid.

Heaven forbid.

This is my third commencement

ball, and not a hint of romance.

Do you suppose that men are frightened

of a woman who teaches

and is used to her independence?

Men are supposed to be fearless,

aren't they?

In war, yes. In religion, always.

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