CHAPTER 7 (TBRAUD)

This chapter is written from the viewpoint of Ophelia Dahl, the young lady with whom Paul fell in love and wanted to marry. It begins with a letter from her to him, explaining why she couldn’t marry him. She loved him very deeply and was as committed so much to him, but she felt she couldn’t be the kind of wife he deserved, because the very qualities that drew her to him also caused her to resent him. He was just too committed to the poor, his schedule is limitless and his huge compassion for others would leave little room for her. She tells him, however, “In the end, I hope you know that as part of my histology you can never be replaced.”