“I have committed all sorts of crimes in thought if not always in action and dont [sic] worry much about it, yet I hate to see a child suffer or to be false in any way…I am hard also, and damnably persistent when I want anything: altogether a generally unpleasing character: I love the fight and when things [are] easy I hate it though when things are wrong I get worried. I am not going to write more in this strain I am a bit tired…and just wandering along.”

— letter to Emily Shackleton