He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong, discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone.
non credeva che una donna osasse parlargli in quel modo, ma io era sul mio terreno e non potevo entrare in comunicazione con gli spiriti forti, eletti e raffinati, senza oltrepassare il limite delle confidenze e conquistare un posto nel focolare del loro cuore.