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Old 30-Dec-2007, 06:01
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Default "to remove all difficulty"

Hi, teachers.
While reading a novel I came across a sentence which I am not sure if I understand correctly.
In this novel a young man (Westray), a lodger, fell in love with the lodging-house keeper's niece living in the same house. When he made a business trip to a far-away city, he sent a letter to propose marriage to her, though in fact she regarded him as a contemptible person. There was an enigmatic expression in the letter and she wondered what it meant.

What were these dangers to which she was even now
exposed, and from which Mr Westray was to shield her? She asked
herself the question formally, though she knew the answer all the while.
Her own heart had told her enough of late, to remove all difficulty in
reading between Mr Westray's lines.

I am a little unsure what the last sentence means. Does this mean "of late, her heart had ordered many times to stop racking her brain trying to figure out what he implies"?
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Old 30-Dec-2007, 07:07
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Default Re: "to remove all difficulty"

What were these dangers to which she was even now
exposed, and from which Mr Westray was to shield her? She asked
herself the question formally, though she knew the answer all the while.
Her own heart had told her enough of late, to remove all difficulty in
reading between Mr Westray's lines.

What were these dangers? Even if she hadn't really thought about it, consciously, she knew what they were in her heart, she knew at an emotional level...and it had been her heart, not her mind, that had repeatedly nagged at her, telling her over and over lately, that really there was no enigmatic message. Mr. Westray may not have spelt it out in the letter, but her heart knew exactly what these dangers were - "she knew the answer all the while."
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Old 30-Dec-2007, 07:23
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Default Re: "to remove all difficulty"

Hi, David L.
Since I read your commnet I think I am beginning to understand the passage more clearly.

Westray is hinting at a man of pretigious rank who has been showing interest in the girl. Westray thinks that the man comes to her just for flirtation, and he calls that situation "danger".

So she knows what Westray is talking about in her heart of hearts, and the last sentence says that whatever he thinks about it it is none of her concern, right?
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Old 30-Dec-2007, 13:54
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Default Re: "to remove all difficulty"

and the last sentence says that whatever he thinks about it it is none of her concern, right?
No.
The girl has probably been very flattered that such a prestigious man is so interested in her..."maybe he will propose to me...and we'll be married...and live in a beautiful house with servants...and..."
HOWEVER, while she's thinking and dreaming all of this, her heart is sensing that he is not sincere, that his intentions 'are not honourable' - he will 'use her and cast her aside', possibly as he's done with many other girls. Westray may have been hinting that 'men like this hold dangers for the unwary girl' without coming right out and saying "he'll just use you for sex and you'll never see him again."
But 'her own heart has been telling her exactly that - not in so many words, and perhaps not as bluntly as he just wants sex - but her heart has been telling her all this so that there is not doubt what Westray has hinted at . Anyone else reading the letter may wonder, what does Westray mean when he says 'danger'? - but she has no difficulty in knowing exactly what the danger is, because "Her own heart had told her (often) enough (over the past few weeks or months). He's just flirting with me...he's not sincere...he doesn't love me...so he's just acting in such an amorous way towards me for his own wicked immoral ends!
What I wonder is, is Westray saying he will shield her from the dangerous men of this world, so she will feel grateful and warmly towards him...so he, Westray, can have his way with her, the dastard, the cad!?
Or have I just read too many Victorian novels?

Last edited by David L.; 30-Dec-2007 at 13:59.
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Old 02-Jan-2008, 05:44
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Default Re: "to remove all difficulty"

Hi, David L.
Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. Now I think I got it!!
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