"We were quite alone for years together.

And then Uncle Mathew--" "Oh, your father, your uncle," he answered quickly.

"They don't count.
What I mean is that you mustn't think men are scoundrels just because they act badly.

I swear that nine out of ten of them never mean to do any harm." "And they think they're speaking the truth at the time.

But anything 'does' for them and then they're in a mess, and all they think about is how to get out of it.