Thomas Hardy

“ When a rake gambles away his expectations, the fact that it is an inconvenient debt doesn't make him the less liable. I've been a rake, and the single point I ask you is, considering that my own scruples, and the fact that in the eye of the law my husband is only missing, will keep any man from marrying me until seven years have passed -- am I free to entertain such an idea, even though 'tis a sort of penance -- for it will be that? ”

“ Boldwood pleaded. "If I wait that time, will you marry me? You own that you owe me amends -- let that be your way of making them."
"But, Mr. Boldwood -- six years ----"
"Do you want to be the wife of any other man?"
"No indeed! I mean, that I don't like to talk about this matter now. Perhaps it is not proper, and I ought not to allow it. Let us drop it. My husband may be living, as I said."
"Of course, I'll drop the subject if you wish. But propriety has nothing to do with reasons. I am a middle- aged man, willing to protect you for the remainder of our lives. ”

“ "Love is an utterly bygone, sorry, worn-out, miserable thing with me -- for him or any one else." ”

“ Well, your want of love seems to me the one thing that takes away harm from such an agreement with him. If wild heat had to do wi' it, making ye long to over-come the awkwardness about your husband's vanishing, it mid be wrong; but a cold-hearted agreement to oblige a man seems different, somehow. The real sin, ma'am, in my mind, lies in thinking of ever wedding wi' a man you don't love honest and true. ”

“ His career depends entirely upon my treatment of him. O Gabriel, I tremble at my responsibility, for it is terrible!"
"Well, I think this much, ma'am, as I told you years ago," said Oak, "that his life is a total blank whenever he isn't hoping for 'ee; but I can't suppose -- I hope that nothing so dreadful hangs on to it as you fancy. His natural manner has always been dark and strange, you know. But since the case is so sad and oddlike, why don't ye give the conditional promise? I think I would." ”

“ Some rash acts of my past life have taught me that a watched woman must have very much circumspection to retain only a very little credit, and I do want and long to be discreet in this! And six years -- why we may all be in our graves by that time, even if Mr. ”