Dear Mr Aisenberg,

Of course I forgive you, but our editor will not forgive me if I re-hash too many of my old arguments. In my response to Jansy I gave a simplified "in a nutshell" kind of re-phrasing of my interpretation of Pale Fire. If that stimulates your interest I really can only suggest a trip to the archives. I'm willing to attempt to clarify any particular question and to rebut any misunderstandings and will answer all complaints, but short of writing a thesis I don't think I can satisfy your too general dissatisfaction. If I'm too old to contemplate marriage with Mr Kelly-Bootle I'm certainly too old to contemplate thesis-writing for your benefit or even my own. I am a happily retired fat little old lady in Pasadena and wish to remain so.

But since you did bring up Hyde's "assaulting and crushing bones with apish glee" I will tell you that the name Kinbote refers to Mr Hyde's first crime and its consequence to Dr Jekyll. Another tidbit you can easily check yourself in Pale Fire is that although Shade is as educated as Kinbote, Shade is always "Mr Shade" and Kinbote always "Dr Kinbote."

I know I sound a bit churlish - - of course I'm glad that my thoughts on Pale Fire are getting another airing on the List, so I do most sincerely thank you for your interest,

Carolyn