I am glad to see you here, of course, but I cannot think of any serious subject which it would be useful or profitable for us to discuss.

You understand me, Borrowdean, I am sure!" Borrowdean closely eyed this man who once had been his friend.
"The old sore still rankles, then, Mannering," he said.

"Has time done nothing to heal it ?" Mannering laughed easily.
"How can you think me such a child ?" he exclaimed.

"If Rochester himself were to come to see me he would be as welcome as you are.

In fact," he continued, more seriously, "if you could only realize, my friend, how peaceful and happy life here may be, amongst the quiet places, you would believe me at once when I assure you that I can feel nothing but gratitude towards those people and those circumstances which impelled me to seek it." "What should you think, then," Borrowdean asked, watching his friend through half-closed eyes, "of those who sought to drag you from it ?" Mannering's laugh was as free and natural as the wind itself.