Quotation from: The Little Lady of the Big House

Written by: Jack London

And as they sang the reckless words to their merry, careless lilt, he
looked down at her and wondered--wondered at her--at himself. This
was no place for him by this woman's side, under her husband's roof-
tree. Yet here he was, and he should have gone days before. After the
years he was just getting acquainted with himself. This was
enchantment, madness. He should tear himself away at once. He had
known enchantments and madnesses before, and had torn himself away.
Had he softened with the years? he questioned himself. Or was this a
profounder madness than he had experienced? This meant the violation
of dear things--things so dear, so jealously cherished and guarded in
his secret life, that never yet had they suffered violation.