In "Souls Belated" by Edith Wharton, we are first as reader's made to ask the question, "Why don't Lydian and Gannett want to be alone in the train together? Why did neither of them wish to speak to the other"" So, who knows what? Lydia an Gannett know what happened in their past; we as reader's do not. The reader understands that they have a past, we are just not sure of what it may be and when it began.

     How does Lydia describe marriage? It could spoil everything between them. She said it was because she cared too much--yet neither one of them (Lydia or Gannet) believed in the 'sacredness' of marriage. The thought was that no ceremony was needed to bond their love together. She also feels if marriage is sacred in itself, the person must also sacrifice themselves to...