Live and learn.

I had my doubts, I confess, but now they're cleared up.

I didn't know, and now I do know, and that shows the advantage of asking--don't it ?' I believed that Steerforth had said what he had, in jest, or to draw Miss Dartle out; and I expected him to say as much when she was gone, and we two were sitting before the fire.

But he merely asked me what I thought of her.
'She is very clever, is she not ?' I asked.
'Clever! She brings everything to a grindstone,' said Steerforth, and sharpens it, as she has sharpened her own face and figure these years past.

She has worn herself away by constant sharpening.