"If I were as kind to you as you are to me, that would spoil your generosity: it would no longer be as great as it could be--and it is that now."
"Then I am not to ask for one kiss," said Grandcourt, contented to pay a large price for this new kind of love-making, which introduced marriage by the finest contrast.
"Not one?" said Gwendolen, getting saucy, and nodding at him defiantly.
He lifted her little left hand to his lips, and then released it respectfully. Clearly it was faint praise to say of him that he was not disgusting: he was almost charming; and she felt at this moment that it was not likely she could ever have loved another man better than this one. His reticence gave her some inexplicable, delightful consciousness.
"Apropos," she said, taking up her work again, "is there any one besides Captain and Mrs. Torrington at Diplow?--or do you leave them _tete--tete_? I suppose he converses in cigars, and she answers with her chignon."
"She has a sister with her," said Grandcourt, with his shadow of a smile, "and there are two men besides--one of them you know, I believe."

"If I were as kind to you as you are to me, that would spoil your generosity: it would no longer be as great as it is."
"Then I am not to ask for one kiss," said Grandcourt, contented to pay a large price for this new kind of love-making, which introduced marriage by the finest contrast.
"Not one!" said Gwendolen, getting saucy.
He lifted her little left hand to his lips, and then released it respectfully. Indeed, he was almost charming; and she felt at this moment that it was not likely she could ever have loved another man better than this one. His reticence gave her some inexplicable, delightful consciousness.
"Is there anyone besides the Torringtons at Diplow?" she said, taking up her work again.
"She has a sister with her," said Grandcourt, "and there are two men - one of them you know, I believe. 