I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things. - George Gissing

"I see. I imagined that he was cast out of all decent society".
"If society were really decent, he would have been"

The truth was that nature had endowed them with a larger share of brains than was common in their circle, and had added that touch of pride which harmonised so ill with the restrictions of poverty. Their life had a tone of melancholy, the painful reserve which characterises a certain clearly-defined class in the present day.

It is familiarity with life that makes time speed quickly. When every day is a step in the unknown, as for children, the days are long with gathering of experience . . .