"For this ultimately disappointing affair, there was, of course, the exchange of love letters; from about the time that he became 'a tall tree among oak trees,' it seems that he made his intentions known." (Book One, p. 57)

"It got very strange; he carried on quite openly as though there was nothing amiss when one might have expected him to try and hide the affair a little and make excuses about having to work at court and such. He became more and more inconsiderate; there was no end to it." (Book One, p. 71)

"Despite my having consorted with this most fortunate man for months and years, I am still without a lot of children, and thus, my position is uncertain and these worries are the only things of which I have a surplus." (Book One, p. 113)

"On New Year's Eve, I thought I would try the custom...