Besides, if I prove over-long in the wind they may not read me at all, which, I own it, would somewhat mar my purpose.
I was speaking, therefore, of being in the watch and ward of two women, each of whom (in my self-conceit I thus imagined it) certainly regarded me without dislike.

God forgive me for thinking so much when they had never plainly told me! Nevertheless I took the thing for granted, as it were.

And, as I said before, it has been my experience that, if it be done with a careful and delicate hand, more is gained with women by taking things for granted than by the smoothest tongue and longest Jacob-and-Rachael service.

The man who succeeds with good women is the man who takes things for granted.

Only he must know exactly what things, otherwise I am mortally sorry for him--he will have a rough road to travel.