It was as though a kindness to Mrs.Lascelles was already the greatest possible kindness to him.
"But I am glad you have told me now," he added, "for it explains many things.

I was inclined to look upon you, Duncan--you won't mind my telling you now--as a bit of a deliberate interloper! But all the time you knew her first, and that alters everything.

I hope to out you still, but I sha'n't any longer bear you a grudge if you out me!" I was horrified.
"My dear fellow," I cried, "do you mean to say this makes no difference ?" "It does to Quinby.

I must keep my hands off him, I suppose, though to my mind he deserves his licking all the more." "But does it make no difference to _you_?
My good boy, can you at your age seriously think of marrying a woman who has been married twice already, and divorced once ?" "I didn't know that when I thought of it first," he answered, doggedly, "and I am not going to let it make a difference now.

Do you suppose I would stand away from her because of anything that's past and over?
Do they stand away from us for--that sort of thing ?" Of course I said that was rather different, with as much conviction as though the ancient dogma had been my own.
"But, Duncan, you know it's the very last thing you're dreaming of doing yourself!" And again I argued, as feebly as you please, that it was quite different in my case--that I was a good ten years older than he, and not my mother's only son.
Bob stiffened on the spot.
"My mother must take care of herself," said he; "and I," he added, "I must take care of myself, if you don't mind.