Edith Wharton

“ Meanwhile her demeanour to Chelles was that of the incorruptible but fearless American woman, who cannot even conceive of love outside of marriage, but is ready to give her devoted friendship to the man on whom, in happier circumstances, she might have bestowed her hand. This attitude was provocative of many scenes, during which her suitor's unfailing powers of expression--his gift of looking and saying all the desperate and devoted things a pretty woman likes to think she inspires--gave Undine the thrilling sense of breathing the very air of French fiction. ”

“ To the Princess she was careful to make her attitude equally clear. "I like your cousin very much--he's delightful, and if I'm in Paris this spring I hope I shall see a great deal of him. But I know how easy it is for a woman in my position to get talked about--and I have my little boy to consider."
Nevertheless, whenever Chelles came over from Beaulieu to spend a day with his aunt and cousin--an excursion he not infrequently repeated--Undine was at no pains to conceal her pleasure. Nor was there anything calculated in her attitude. ”

“ In France, a man of position who goes through the form of civil marriage with a divorced woman is simply ruining himself and her. They might much better--from her point of view as well as his--be 'friends,' as it's called over here: such arrangements are understood and allowed for. But when a Frenchman marries he wants to marry as his people always have. He knows there are traditions he can't fight against--and in his heart he's glad there are."
"Oh, I know: they've so much religious feeling. I admire that in them: their religion's so beautiful." Undine looked thoughtfully at her visitor. ”