J. M. Barrie,
The Little White Bird — Chapter 26…
(1902)
“ She shook her head and smiled. "On my soul," I assured her, "I can think of no other reason.""A kind heart," said she."More likely a whim," said I."Or another woman," said she.I was very much taken aback."More than twenty years ago," she said with a soft huskiness in her voice, and a tremor and a sweetness, as if she did not know that in twenty years all love stories are grown mouldy.On my honour as a soldier this explanation of my early solicitude for Mary was one that had never struck me, but the more I pondered it now—. ”
