Why He Talked

The writer and diplomat Henry Adams enjoyed spending time with his teenage niece Gabrielle. One time will visiting her, they sat together for a long time in the study following dinner. Henry began to pontificate on a whole host of topics, which ranged from the world, to the nature of God and humanity, and his own hopes and disappointments in life. He went on and on for some time until he abruptly broke off, and took a moment to think. “Do you know why I have told you all this?” He…