I could undertake, at this instant," he continued, with a reasonable intonation which did much credit to his self-control, "to lay down terms for a friendship which should be perfectly sincere and perfectly straightforward." She was curious to hear them, but, besides feeling that the topic concealed dangers better known to her than to him, she was reminded by his tone of his curious abstract declaration upon the Embankment.
Anything that hinted at love for the moment alarmed her; it was as much an infliction to her as the rubbing of a skinless wound.
But he went on, without waiting for her invitation.
"In the first place, such a friendship must be unemotional," he laid it down emphatically.

"At least, on both sides it must be understood that if either chooses to fall in love, he or she does so entirely at his own risk.

Neither is under any obligation to the other.

They must be at liberty to break or to alter at any moment.

They must be able to say whatever they wish to say.