“He would never again tempt innocence. He would be good.”

“No; he could be ruined again and again by hope, but he would never be capable of belief.”

“Why would he want to put a stain on a white sheet? Why would he want to taint a love that has never been crushed? Why would he want to see her intoxicated then leave her in the morning to fend for herself? Why would he want to ruin innocence?”

“It was the end of Ernest's struggle with apprenticeship, and an end to other things as well. He would never again be unknown. We would never again be this unhappy.”

“He would not come again. This was good. No. This was bad. At least it was an end.”

“Again it became suddenly plain and perceptible to him that he had just told a fearful lie - that he would never now be able to speak freely of everything - that he would never again be able to speak of anything to anyone.”