It would be far better that that irritatingly attractive specimen of manhood should not step upon the scene, until he himself had some definite hope of affairs being satisfactorily settled.
They began their talk upon the lightest subjects, and gradually drifted into one of the discussions of emotions in the abstract which are so fascinating--and so dangerous--and which require skill to direct and continue.
Mrs.Howard held that pleasure could alone come from harmony of body and spirit, while Lord Fordyce maintained that wild discords could also produce it, and that it could not be defined as governed by any law.
"One is sometimes full of pleasure even against one's will," he said.
"Every spiritual principle and conviction may be outraged, and yet for some unaccountable reason pleasure remains." Mrs.Howard opened her eyes wide as if at a sudden thought.
"Yes," she said.

"I wish it were not true what you say, but it is--and it is a great injustice." "What makes you say that ?" Henry asked, quickly.

"You were thinking of some particular thing.

Do tell me." "I was thinking how some people can sin and err in every way, and yet there is something about them which causes them to be forgiven, and which even causes pleasure while they are sinning; and there are others who might do the same things and would be anathematised at once--and no joy felt with them at any time.

Moravia and I call it having 'it'-- some people have it, and some people have not got it, and that is the end of the matter!" "It is a strange thing, but I know what you mean.