The detail in the cyclists' dialogue that refines the idea that they might be related is in paragraph 22.
In this paragraph, Ned suggests that they could be long-lost brothers due to their similar age, lack of knowledge about their fathers, and shared English heritage. He even proposes nicknames for them, "Ted" and "Ned," which further suggests a sense of familiarity and kinship.
Ted's initial reaction of surprise and denial in paragraph 23 also implies that the idea of being related is not entirely outlandish to him. His hesitation suggests that he may have considered the possibility himself, perhaps subconsciously.
(19) "This is confusing," he remarked in a tone of argument. "Let's sit down and have a pipe over it--we shall have to differentiate ourselves before we start out into the world together."...
(20) "Let's differentiate our names somehow," said the pleasant- voiced one lazily--"Did your godfathers, etc., do anything more for you than Edward--mine didn't."
(21) The other shook his head. Something in his handsome face had already differentiated itself from the amused curiosity on his companion's.
(22) "That's awkward--we shall be driven to abbreviations. You shall be Ted, and I Ned--both dentals but philologically uninterchangeable; so they'll do for the present. Well, Ted, since you are twenty-seven and I'm gone twenty-nine, and my father died before I was born, we can't be complicated up as long--lost brothers--can we?"
(23) Ted turned to him frowning sharply--"No! but--but what put that into your head. I----"
(24) Ned laughed; a laugh as musical as his voice, but with a quaint aloofness about it as if he himself were standing aside to listen.
(25) "The position is--romantic; and novels have it so always. As if it were not frankly impossible in this England of ours to dissociate one man from another by breed--we're hopeless mongrels, kin to each other all round. Birth counts for nothing; so let's quit it-- Upbringing?"
Select the correct text in the passage.
Which detail in the cyclists' dialogue refines the idea that they might be related?
(19) "This is confusing," he remarked in a tone of argument. "Let's sit down and have a pipe over it--we shall have to differentiate ourselves before we start out into the world together."...
(20) "Let's differentiate our names somehow," said the pleasant-voiced one lazily--"Did your godfathers, etc., do anything more for you than Edward--mine didn't."
(21) The other shook his head. Something in his handsome face had already differentiated itself from the amused curiosity on his companion's.
(22) "That's awkward--we shall be driven to abbreviations. You shall be Ted, and I Ned--both dentals but philologically uninterchangeable; so they'll do for the present. Well, Ted, since you are twenty-seven and I'm gone twenty-nine, and my father died before I was born, we can't be complicated up as long--lost brothers--can we?"
(23) Ted turned to him frowning sharply--"No! but--but what put that into your head. I---
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Dec 15
9:43 US