‘What do you mean by using the will properly?’ said Birkin.

‘A very great doctor taught me,’ she said, addressing Ursula and Gerald vaguely. ‘He told me for instance, that to cure oneself of a bad habit, one should FORCE oneself to do it, when one would not do it — make oneself do it — and then the habit would disappear.’

‘How do you mean?’ said Gerald.

‘If you bite your nails, for example. Then, when you don’t want to bite your nails, bite them, make yourself bite them. And you would find the habit was broken.’

‘Is that so?’ said Gerald.

‘Yes. And in so many things, I have MADE myself well. I was a very queer and nervous girl. And by learning to use my will, simply by using my will, I MADE myself right.’