How would you interpret ‘short of expectation’ in the sentence?
Last item: the book is to be published late this year by Stratford and Sons Publishers, New York. The editor, Mr. Barnes, confirmed it today. He wants it titled Vassals of Majesty, which is silly, as the characters are vassals of cupiditas and greed. The original title was meant to be Ten Leagues from Where We Sleep, as it’s about men who find themselves always marching short of their own and everyone else’s expectation, including the reader’s. But Mr. Barnes says that title has too many words in it.
How would you interpret ‘short of expectation’ in the sentence: …as it’s about men who find themselves always marching short of their own and everyone else’s expectation…?
Thanks! And it’s taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.