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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: war into the enemy's camp. "We are so anxious to know the exact
purpose you had in mind in writing your wonderful book."
"You will find," Mrs. Plinth interposed, "that we are not
superficial readers."
"We are eager to hear from you," Miss Van Vluyck continued, "if
the pessimistic tendency of the book is an expression of your own
convictions or--"
"Or merely," Miss Glyde hastily thrust in, "a sombre background
brushed in to throw your figures into more vivid relief. ARE you
not primarily plastic?"
"I have always maintained," Mrs. Ballinger interposed, "that you
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