In these last ten days in the settle-bed, he had reached one other definite though qualified conclusion: if the legend was true, he had lost Merrily completely, and for one simple reason. The reason was this: she was the one woman he could truly love. She was a provocatrice, yes. An accomplished flirt, yes. No better than she should be, by the gossip, yes. But he loved her.
Source: wiktionary