16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
nary sensual man in that respect and although
in his long period of opium-eating his ardour
had so declined that continence was no virtue,
it had since revived with more than common
force; yet in his view amorous conversation
was significant only if the desire and the liking
were shared, and early in their acquaintance it
had become clear to him that physical lovemaking
was meaningless to Clarissa, an act of
not the slightest consequence. She took not
the least pleasure in it and although out of
good nature or a wish to be liked she might
gratify a 'lover' it might be said that she was
chastely unchaste. At that time no moral question
was involved. The experience of her
childhood – loneliness in a remote country
house, early abuse, and a profound ignorance
of the ordinary world – accounted for her attitude
of mind: there was no bodily imperfection.
None of this was written on her forehead,