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@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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<p>My chambers were up stairs at No.--Wall-street. At one end they looked
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upon the white wall of the interior of a spacious sky-light shaft, penetrating
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the building from top to bottom. This view might have been considered rather
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tame than otherwise, deficient in what landscape painters call "life."
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tame than otherwise, deficient in what landscape painters call "life."
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But if so, the view from the other end of my chambers offered, at least,
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a contrast, if nothing more. In that direction my windows commanded an
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unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall,black by age and everlasting shade;
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@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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<p>In this very attitude did I sit when I called to him, rapidly stating
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what it was I wanted him to do--namely, to examine a small paper with me.
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Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when without moving from his
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privacy, Bartleby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied,"I would
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prefer not to."</p>
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privacy, Bartleby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied,"I would prefer
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not to."</p>
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<p>I sat awhile in perfect silence, rallying my stunned faculties. Immediately
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it occurred to me that my ears had deceived me, or Bartleby had entirely
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misunderstood my meaning. I repeated my request in the clearest tone I
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@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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brush; on a chair, a tin basin, with soap and a ragged towel; in a newspaper
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a few crumbs of ginger-nuts and a morsel of cheese. Yet, thought I, it
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is evident enough that Bartleby has been making his home here, keeping
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bachelor's hallall by himself. Immediately then the thought came sweeping
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bachelor's hallall by himself. Immediately then the thought came sweeping
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across me, What miserable friendlessness and loneliness are here revealed!
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His poverty is great; but his solitude, how horrible! Think of it. Of a
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Sunday, Wall-street is deserted as Petra; and every night of every day
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@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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to ask you to do any thing you would prefer not to do--I simply wish to
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speak to you."</p>
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<p>Upon this he noiselessly slid into view.</p>
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<p>"Will you tell me, Bartleby, where you were born?"</p>
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<p>"Will you tell me, Bartleby, where you were born?"</p>
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<p>"I would prefer not to."</p>
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<p>"Will you tell me <i>anything </i>about yourself?"</p>
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<p>"I would prefer not to."</p>
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@ -685,8 +685,7 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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the stubborn mule! What is it, sir, pray, that he <i>prefers</i> not to do
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now?"</p>
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<p>Bartleby moved not a limb.</p>
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<p>"Mr. Nippers," said I, "I'd prefer that you would
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withdraw for the present."</p>
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<p>"Mr. Nippers," said I, "I'd prefer that you would withdraw for the present."</p>
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<p>Somehow, of late I had got into the way of involuntary using this word
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"prefer" upon all sorts of not exactly suitable occasions. And I trembled
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to think that my contact with the scrivener had already and seriously affected
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@ -772,9 +771,9 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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<p>Now I had an unbounded confidence in this man's common honesty. He had
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frequently restored to me six pences and shillings carelessly dropped upon
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the floor, for I am apt to be very reckless in such shirt-button affairs.
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The proceeding then which followed will not be deemed extraordinary. "Bartleby,"
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said I, "I owe you twelve dollars on account; here are thirty-two;
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the odd twenty are yours.--Will you take it? and I handed the bills towards
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The proceeding then which followed will not be deemed extraordinary. "Bartleby,"
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said I, "I owe you twelve dollars on account; here are thirty-two; the
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odd twenty are yours.--Will you take it? and I handed the bills towards
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him.</p>
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<p>But he made no motion.</p>
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<p>"I will leave them here then," putting them under a weight on the table.
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@ -1056,9 +1055,9 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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<p>"What are you doing here, Bartleby?" said I.</p>
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<p>"Sitting upon the banister," he mildly replied.</p>
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<p>I motioned him into the lawyer's room, who then left us.</p>
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<p>"Bartleby," said I, "are you aware that you are the cause of great
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tribulation to me, by persisting in occupying the entry after being dismissed
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from the office?"</p>
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<p>"Bartleby," said I, "are you aware that you are the cause of great tribulation
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to me, by persisting in occupying the entry after being dismissed from
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the office?"</p>
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<p>No answer.</p>
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<p>"Now one of two things must take place. Either you must do something or
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something must be done to you. Now what sort of business would you like
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@ -1186,10 +1185,10 @@ I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty
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<p>"I think he is a little deranged," said I, sadly.</p>
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<p>"Deranged? deranged is it? Well now, upon my word, I thought that friend
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of yourn was a gentleman forger; they are always pale and genteel-like,
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them forgers. I can't help pity 'em--can't help it, sir. Did
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you know Monroe Edwards?" he added touchingly, and paused. Then, laying
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his hand pityingly on my shoulder, sighed, "he died of consumption at Sing-Sing.
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so you weren't acquainted with Monroe?"</p>
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them forgers. I can't help pity 'em--can't help it, sir. Did you know Monroe
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Edwards?" he added touchingly, and paused. Then, laying his hand pityingly
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on my shoulder, sighed, "he died of consumption at Sing-Sing. so you weren't
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acquainted with Monroe?"</p>
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<p>"No, I was never socially acquainted with any forgers. But I cannot stop
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longer. Look to my friend yonder. You will not lose by it. I will see you
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again."</p>
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