It ran along by force of habit, by force of conventional opinion. With the lapse of time it must necessarily become dryer and dryer--must eventually be tinder, easily lighted and destroyed.

• 这种家庭生活靠习惯的力量和传统观念维系着，随着时间的推移，会变得越来越干枯--最终成为一团火绒，很容易着火，把一切烧毁。