‘Well, it did strike me in that way.’
‘But that’s because you exaggerate what I said. I said that I had been attracted by several men.’
‘And that dark men thrilled you.’
‘Exactly.’
‘I had hoped that I was the first.’
‘It was not fated to be so. I could easily tell you a lie, Frank, and say that you were, but I should never forgive myself if I were to do such a thing. You see I left school at seventeen, and I was twenty-three when I became engaged to you. There are six years. Imagine all the dances, picnics, parties, visitings of six years. I could not help meeting young men continually. A good many were interested in me, and I—’
‘You were interested in them.’
‘It was natural, Frank.’
‘Oh yes, perfectly natural. And then I understand that the interest deepened.’
‘Sometimes. When you met a young man who was interested several times running, at a dance, then in the street, then in the garden, then a walk home at night—of course your interest began to deepen.’