“I ask you, Mr Hawden, if you have any sense of manliness, from this
hour to cease persecuting me with your idiotic professions of love. I
have two sentiments regarding it, and in either you disgust me.
Sometimes I don’t believe there is such a thing as love at all—that is,
love between men and women. While in this frame of mind I would not
listen to professions of love from an angel. Other times I believe in
love, and look upon it as a sacred and solemn thing. When in that
humour, it seems to me a desecration to hear you twaddling about the
holy theme, for you are only a boy, and don’t know how to feel. I would
not have spoken thus harshly to you, but by your unmanly conduct you
have brought it upon yourself. I have told you straight all that I will
ever deign to tell you on the subject, and take much pleasure in
wishing you good afternoon.”