“It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that everyone was forsaking me and going away from me.”

“It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one is entitled to ask who “every one” was. For though I had been living almost eight years in Petersburg I had hardly an acquaintance. But what did I want with acquaintances? I was acquainted with all Petersburg as it was...”

“If I loved someone, I could never let him go away from me. I would be too miserable and lonely.”

“Forsake me not till I deserveNor hate me not till I offend;Destroy me not till that I swerve;But since ye know that I intend,Forsake me not.”

“But what I remember is the countryside then, the brilliance of outdoors and outwindows, and the sunlight streaming through the lozenge shapes of the glass, and we were locked away from it, locked inside to worship. And there was the sun out there for everyone else to see. Good God, tell me Clovis wasn't lonely at dawn. Tell me he wasn't sick at the sunset.”

“But also I wanted him to go away and leave me be. I was granted one weak grace. Back in the room where the green chair was still warm from his body, I blew that lonely, flickering candle out”