But it always
comes back--the memory of his innumerable acts of kindness, of
his efficiency, of his unspiteful tongue. He was such a fine fellow.
So I feel myself forced to attempt to excuse him in this as in so
many other things. It is, I have no doubt, a most monstrous thing
to attempt to corrupt a young girl just out of a convent. But I think
Edward had no idea at all of corrupting her. I believe that he
simply loved her. He said that that was the way of it and I, at least,
believe him and I believe too that she was the only woman he ever
really loved. He said that that was so; and he did enough to prove
it. And Leonora said that it was so and Leonora knew him to the
bottom of his heart.
I have come to be very much of a cynic in these matters; I mean
that it is impossible to believe in the permanence of man's or
woman's love. Or, at any rate, it is impossible to believe in the
permanence of any early passion. As I see it, at least, with regard
to man, a love affair, a love for any definite woman--is something
in the nature of a widening of the experience. With each new
woman that a man is attracted to there appears to come a
broadening of the outlook, or, if you like, an acquiring of new
territory.
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