Of course this is only a glimpse.

But just take notice, in future, if you have a chance.

I sometimes think we've got into a rather bad way, living off here among things and people not our own, without responsibilities or attachments, with nothing to hold us together or keep us up; marrying foreigners, forming artificial tastes, playing tricks with our natural mission.

Let me add, though, that I say that much more for myself than for my sister.
She's a very honest lady--more so than she seems.

She's rather unhappy, and as she's not of a serious turn she doesn't tend to show it tragically: she shows it comically instead.