Why is there a comma? and other questions...
Hi all! Could you tell me why after the word "enjoyments" there is a comma? Is that to-infinitive for the verb "have them forego..."? But if so, why the need for the comma? (It's not a typo, by the way. I checked other editions.)
"The Author would fain hope that there are not many who would disturb Master Humphrey and his friends in their seclusion; who would have them forego their present enjoyments, to exchange confidences with each other, the absence of which is the foundation of their mutual trust."
Another question: what does the relative pronoun "which" (the absence of which) refer to?
Top answer
Without more context, the sense here is apparently: The author hopes people with not disturb Humphrey and his friends, resulting in Humphrey and his friends then having to give up their present pleasurable activities, and having to then behave normally with each other. If they were to do that (start relating normally to each other), their friendship would rapidly dissolve, since it is the absence of this normal relating to each other that enables them to have so much pleasure with each other. "
- Without more context, the sense here is apparently: The author hopes people with not disturb Humphrey and his friends, resulting in Humphrey and his friends then having to give up their present pleasurable activities, and having to then behave normally with each other.
- If they were to do that (start relating normally to each other), their friendship would rapidly dissolve, since it is the absence of this normal relating to each other that enables them to have so much pleasure with each other.
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Without more context, the sense here is apparently: The author hopes people with not disturb Humphrey and his friends, resulting in Humphrey and his friends then having to give up their present pleasurable activities, and having to then behave normally with each other. If they were to do that (start relating normally to each other), their friendship would rapidly dissolve, since it is the ab
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