How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly.
I wish I could tell you how lonely I am. How cold and harsh it is here. Everywhere there is conflict and unkindness. I think God has forsaken this place. I believe I have seen hell and it’s white, it’s snow-white.
People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people’s minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.
I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you don’t understand me.
Margaret was not a ready lover, but where she loved she loved passionately, and with no small degree of jealousy.
There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.
A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
He shrank from hearing Margaret’s very name mentioned; he, while he blamed her – while he was jealous of her – while he renounced her – he loved her sorely, in spite of himself.
But the future must be met, however stern and iron it be.
But the cloud never comes in that quarter of the horizon from which we watch for it.
He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact.
He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defence of him, seemed to thrill him through and through, – to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire.
I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine...
I dare not hope. I never was fainthearted before; but I cannot believe such a creature cares for me.