Lady Torminster says
I knew you were going to-morrow. Oh, never mind how! I knew. And I suspected you would be sitting up here to-night. So I came down, hoping to find you. I wanted this talk with you. And I extracted your confession–as though it had been a tooth. Why? Because it will be something to think of, in the dull days ahead. Because I knew that you loved me, and wanted to be told. Because your life lies before you, and mine is ended. Because I love you, and insisted that you should know. You leave me now, and I have no illusions. Paolo and Francesca are merely a poet’s dream. You will marry–of course you will marry–but this moment, at least, has been mine. Ah, the future! Strange little syllables that hide so much! I can see you, introducing your wife to me, a little shyly–I can see myself, shaking hands with her–and with you…. My boy is seven already–time travels fast…. But it’s good to know that you really have loved me, all these years….And I have loved you–ah, yes, I have loved you!… And, having said this to each other, we will not meet again–till you bring me your wife. I have loved you, and I love you, for the fine, upright, loyal creature that you are. I love you for loving Jack; and it is Jack’s great quality in my eyes that he has been able to inspire such love. And, my dear friend, let us not be ashamed, we two, but only very proud, and very happy. We shall go our ways, and do our duty; but we shall never forget this talk we have had to-night.