Sons and Lovers - Daimon Club

So he gave the account of himself.
But insidiously, without his knowing it, the warmth he felt
for Clara drew him away from Miriam, for whom he felt responsible,
and to whom he felt he belonged. He thought he was being quite
faithful to her. It was not easy to estimate exactly the strength
and warmth of one's feelings for a woman till they have run away
with one.
He began to give more time to his men friends. There was Jessop,
at the art school; Swain, who was chemistry demonstrator
at the university; Newton, who was a teacher; besides Edgar and
Miriam's younger brothers. Pleading work, he sketched and studied
with Jessop. He called in the university for Swain, and the two went
"down town" together. Having come home in the train with Newton,
he called and had a game of billiards with him in the Moon
and Stars. If he gave to Miriam the excuse of his men friends,
he felt quite justified. His mother began to be relieved.
He always told her where he had been.
During the summer Clara wore sometimes a dress of soft cotton