than we ourselves.'

*****

'Olalla,' I said, 'the soul and the body are one, and mostly so in love.
What the body chooses, the soul loves; where the body clings, the
soul cleaves; body for body, soul to soul, they come together at God's
signal; and the lower part (if we can call aught low) is only the
footstool and foundation of the highest.'

*****

She sent me away, and yet I had but to call upon her name and she came
to me. These were but the weaknesses of girls, from which even she, the
strangest of her sex, was not exempted.

*****

For even in love there are unlovely humours; ambiguous acts,
unpardonable words, may yet have sprung from a kind sentiment. If
the injured one could read your heart, you may be sure that he would
understand and pardon; but, alas! the heart cannot be shown--it has to
be demonstrated in words.

*****

There is no greater wonder than the way the face of a young woman fits
in a man's mind, and stays there, and he could never tell you why; it
just seems it was the thing he wanted.

*****

There are many matters in which you may waylay Destiny, and bid him
stand and deliver. Hard work, high thinking, adventurous excitement,
and a great deal more that forms a part of this or the other person's
spiritual bill of fare, are within the reach of almost any one who can
dare a little and be patient. But it is by no means in the way of every
one to fall in love....A wet rag goes safely by the fire; and if a man
is blind, he cannot expect to be much impressed by romantic scenery.
Apart from all this, many lovable people miss each other in the world,
or meet under some unfavourable star.

*****

To deal plainly, if they only married when they fell in love, most
people would die unwed; and among the others, there would be not a
few tumultuous households. The Lion is the King of Beasts, but he is
scarcely suitable for a domestic pet. In the same way, I suspect love
is rather too violent a passion to make, in all cases, a good domestic
sentiment. Like other violent excitements, it throws up not only what is
best, but what is worst and smallest, in men's characters. Just as
some people are malicious in drink, or brawling and virulent under the
influence of religious feeling, some are moody, jealous, and exacting
when they are in love, who are honest, downright, good-hearted fellows
enough in the everyday affairs and humours of the world.

*****

There is only one event in life which r