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Mr. Perriam wore on the hand that pulled his moustache a diamond of dazzling lustre, in consequence of which and of his general weight and mystery our young lady observed on his departure that if he had only had a turban he would have been quite her idea of a heathen Turk.

‘He’s quite my idea,’ Mrs. Wix replied, ‘of a heathen Jew.’

‘Well, I mean,’ said Maisie, ‘of a person who comes from the East.’

‘That’s where he must come from,’ her governess opined—‘he comes from the City.’ In a moment she added as if she knew all about him: ‘He’s one of those people who have lately broken out. He’ll be immensely rich.’

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage follows the introduction of Ida’s new lover, Mr. Perriam, a small, hairy, and unattractive banker unlike most other members of the Faranges’ social clique. Maisie is dazzled by the exotic seeming Mr. Perriam and compares him to a T...

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Original

Romeo

(aside) She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white, upturnèd, wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art though Romeo?
Deny they father and refuse they name.
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Modern

Romeo

(to himself) She speaks. Speak again, bright angel! For tonight you are as glorious, there up above me, as a winged messenger of heaven who makes mortals fall onto their backs to gaze up with awestruck eyes as he strides across the lazy clouds and sails through the air.

Juliet

O Romeo, Romeo! Why must you be Romeo? Deny your father and give up your name. Or, if you won’t change your name, just swear your love to me and I’ll give up being a Capulet.

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