He wasn't just being selfish, he was being realistic. Marriage would have been very difficult if not downright impossible. - Susan Howatch

Acquiring carnal knowledge is like swimming in the sea ... The sea's so beautiful to look at, so wonderful to swim in, but you must never bathe unless it's safe. People so often drown in the sea and some coasts are so very dangerous, ... like the Coast of Gower.

There are standards of immorality as well as standards of morality, Robert. Make sure yours are high.

More tears. Disgraceful. I was getting just like Kester, weeping at the drop of a hat, but of course I was Kester. I'd become him, and now there was just this other stranger who wrote me debonair notes and who sounded just like me.