Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented — Chapter I • Paragraph 2839
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Thus from being her critic he grew to be her advocate. Cynical things he had uttered to himself about her; but no man can be always a cynic and live; and he withdrew them. The mistake of expressing them had arisen from his allowing himself to be influenced by general principles to the disregard of the particular instance.