I've tried to force her--I have done nothing else since I fell in love with her, but force her toward people whom she has a perfect right not to care for--even if they happen to be my own people.

She has felt nothing but a steady and stupid pressure from me;--heard from me nothing except importunities--the merciless, obstinate urging of my own views--which, God forgive me, I thought were the only views because they were respectable!" He stood, head lowered, nervously clenching and unclenching his hands.
"It was not for her own sake--that's the worst of it! It was for my sake--because I've had respectability inculcated until I can't conceive of my doing anything not respectable....

Once, something else got away with me--and I gave it rein for a moment--until checked....

I'm really no different from other men." "I think you are beginning to be, Kelly." "Am I?
I don't know.

But the worst of it was my selfishness--my fixed idea that her marrying me was the _only_ salvation for her....