by Henry James

“ Mudge was distinctly her fate; yet at this moment she turned her face quite away from him, showing him so long a mere quarter of her cheek that she at last again heard his voice. He couldn’t see a pair of tears that were partly the reason of her delay to give him the assurance he required; but he expressed at a venture the hope that she had had her fill of Cocker’s.
She was finally able to turn back. “Oh quite. There’s nothing going on. No one comes but the Americans at Thrupp’s, and they don’t do much. They don’t seem to have a secret in the world.” ”

“ The odd thing was how she never doubted that, properly handled, his passion was poisonable; what had happened was that he had cannily selected a partner with no poison to distil. She read then and there that she should never interest herself in anybody as to whom some other sentiment, some superior view, wouldn’t be sure to interfere for him with jealousy. ”

“ What’s he in danger of?”
“Of being found out. He’s in love with a lady—and it isn’t right—and I’ve found him out.”
“That’ll be a look-out for me!” Mr. Mudge joked. “You mean she has a husband?”
“Never mind what she has! They’re in awful danger, but his is the worst, because he’s in danger from her too.”
“Like me from you—the woman I love? If he’s in the same funk as me—”
“He’s in a worse one. He’s not only afraid of the lady—he’s afraid of other things.”
Mr. Mudge selected another chocolate-cream. “Well, I’m only afraid of one! But how in the world can you help this party?” ”