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My mother had a good deal of trouble with me but I think she enjoyed it. She had none
at all with my brother Henry, who was two years younger than I, and I think that the
unbroken monotony of his goodness and truthfulness and obedience would have a
burden to her but for the relief and variety which I furnished in the other direction. I
was a tonic to her. I was valuable to her.

私の母は私にずいぶんと手を焼いたが、彼女はそれを楽しんでいたと思う。二歳年下の弟
にはまったく手を焼かなかったが、思うに、もし安心感や多様性といった弟とは逆方向の
性質を私が備えていなかったら、弟の不断で単調なる善良さや正直さ、従順さは母の負担
になっていたのではないだろうか。私は母にとって元気の源だった。私は母にとって価値
がある存在だった。