It is awfully wanting in common sense to think because you cannot obtain one woman there are none others in the world." "Awfully," agreed Henry--suddenly taking in the attractive picture she made, seated there at his knees, her white hand holding his hand.

His thoughts wandered for a moment, as thought will do when the mind is overstrained; they wandered to the speculation of why American women should have such small and white hands, and then he brought himself back to the actual conversation.
"You mean to tell me," he said, "that if every time I remember, when I am dwelling upon the subject which pains me, that I must make my thoughts turn to other things which give me pleasure, that gradually the new thoughts will banish the old ?" "Of course, I mean that," Moravia told him.

"Everything comes in cycles; that is why people get into habits.

You just try, Henry; you can cure the habit of pain as easily as you can cure any habit.

It is all a question of will." She saw that she had created interest in his eyes, and rejoiced.