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He did not know that his mode of behavior in relation to Kitty

had a definite character, that it is courting young girls with no

intention of marriage, and that such courting is one of the evil

actions common among brilliant young men such as he was. It

seemed to him that he was the first who had discovered this

pleasure, and he was enjoying his discovery.

If he could have heard what her parents were saying that evening,

if he could have put himself at the point of view of the family

and have heard that Kitty would be unhappy if he did not marry

her, he would have been greatly astonished, and would not have

believed it. He could not believe that what gave such great and

delicate pleasure to him, and above all to her, could be wrong.

Still less could he have believed that he ought to marry.