Chapter 52
The Moment of Truth Arrives
The tardy gig had overtaken me at last. I entered it, and bade the man who brought it drive to Grassdale Manor—I was too busy with my own thoughts to care to drive it myself. I would see Mrs. Huntingdon—there could be no impropriety in that now that her husband had been dead above a year—and by her indifference or her joy at my unexpected arrival I could soon tell whether her heart was truly mine. But my companion, a loquacious, forward fellow, was not disposed to leave me to the indulgence of my private cogitations. “There they go!” said…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Strip Away the Noble Excuses
Think of a situation where you talked yourself out of taking action using seemingly virtuous reasons. Write down your 'noble' excuse, then underneath it, write what you were actually afraid of. Finally, rewrite the situation as an honest conversation you could have had instead of avoiding it entirely.
Consider:
- •Notice how logical and selfless your original reasoning sounded
- •Identify the specific fear hiding behind the virtue language
- •Consider whether honest communication might have been more respectful than assumptions
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone made assumptions about what was 'best for you' instead of asking directly. How did that feel, and what would you have preferred they do instead?
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