At the Malvern time, the particular time I just mentioned to you, Lady Julia was already married, and during those first years she had been whirled out of my ken.

Then her own life took a quieter turn; we met again; I went for a good while often to her house.

I think she rather liked the state to which she had reduced me, though she didn't, you know, in the least presume on it.

The better a woman is--it has often struck me--the more she enjoys in a quiet way some fellow's having been rather bad, rather dark and desperate, about her--for her.

I dare say, I mean, that though Lady Julia insisted I ought to marry she wouldn't really have liked it much if I had.