I pointed out that he was an infinitely more fascinating creature, which was no hard saying, for that epithet at least I have never earned.

And yet it was the word to sting my wife.
"Fascinating, perhaps!" said she.

"Yes, that is the very word; but--fascination is not love!" And then I went to her, and stroked her hair (for she had hung her head in deep distress), and kissed the tears from her eyes.

And I swore that her eyes were as lovely as Eva Denison's, that there seemed even more gold in her glossy brown hair, that she was even younger to look at.

And at the last and craftiest compliment my own love looked at me through her tears, as though some day or other she might forgive me.
"Then why did you want to give me up to him ?" said she..