But I think you might have guessed, you who write books about women.

It is because I liked you when you were a boy.

You were often horrid, but you were my first friend when every other person was against me.

You let me play with you when no other boy or girl would let me play.

And so, all the time you have been away, I have been hoping that you were growing into a noble man; and when you came back, I watched to see whether you were the noble man I wanted you so much to be, and you are not.