Though young, he was already a little bald; he
was dressed entirely in black; the fairness of his linen, the
neatness of his beard, his gloves much worn, yet carefully
mended, intimated that his very faded garments were the result
of necessity rather than of negligence.
"You also lament the dissolution of these bodies," said
Egremont.
"There is so much to lament in the world in which we live,"
said the younger of the strangers, "that I can spare no pang
for the past."
"Yet you approve of the principle of their society; you prefer
it, you say, to our existing life."
"Yes; I prefer association to gregariousness."
"That is a distinction," said Egremont, musingly.
"It is a community of purpose that constitutes society,"
continued the younger stranger; "without that, men may be
drawn into contiguity, but they still continue virtually
isolated."
"And is that their condition in cities?"
"It is their condition everywhere; but in cities that
condition is aggravated. A density of population implies a
severer struggle for existence, and a consequent repulsion of
elements brought into too close contact. In great cities men
are brought together by the desire of gain.
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