You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.

of yourself running about after a man who's not in love

And my whole life, every white man's life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at.

A few years earlier, if a man showed he cared about his appearance or clothes, he would be told he was being too feminine, or acting like a girl.

You might get teased and bullied and hurt by people you meet ... and then after meeting dozens of jerks, find a true friend.