He had known her since she was sixteen (she was now twenty-four).

Yet he did not trust her, and she troubled him.

He had met her at a studio at a time when he had thought of studying art seriously.

Sometimes, something about her worried and wearied him, yet he couldn't do without her for long.

The fact that he knew he was of great help to her fascinated him; he often thought that if she had been rich and he poor he would never wish to see her again.