My fault, as it would be if I tried to solace
a sick child with arithmetic, or feed a dog with grass. I had no
right to love you, knowing you as I did; and knowing also that my
ways would not be your ways. My punishment I understand, and it is
not more than I can bear; but I had hoped that your punishment would
have been soon over."
"You are too proud, Bessy."
"That is very likely. Frank says that I am a Puritan, and pride was
the worst of their sins."
"Too proud and unbending. In marriage should not the man and woman
adapt themselves to each other?"
"When they are married, yes. And every girl who thinks of marrying
should know that in very much she must adapt herself to her husband.
But I do not think that a woman should be the ivy, to take the
direction of every branch of the tree to which she clings. If she
does so, what can be her own character? But we must go on, or we
shall be too late."
"And you will give me no other answer?"
"None other, Godfrey. Have you not just now, at this very moment,
told me that I was too proud? Can it be possible that you should
wish to tie yourself for life to female pride? And if you tell me
that now, at such a moment as this, what would you tell me in the
close intimacy of married life, when the trifles of every day would
have worn away the courtesies of guest and lover?"
There was a sharpness of rebuke in this which Godfrey Holmes could
not at the moment overcome.
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