They had teased her unmercifully, it seemed, all that day, but were graciously pleased to smile upon my suit, like a pair of imprudent Arcadians as they are.
"They like you very much indeed," my Lotta said joyously; "but I believe they think I have known you much longer than I really have, and that you are very intimate with my stepfather.

It seems almost like deceiving them to allow them to think so, but I really haven't the courage to tell the truth.

How foolish and bold they would think me if they knew how very short a time I have known you!" "Twenty times longer than Juliet had known Romeo when they met in the Friar's cell to be married," I urged.
"Yes, but that was in a play," replied Charlotte, "where everything is obliged to be hurried; and at Hyde Lodge we all of us thought that Juliet was a very forward young person." "The poets all believe in love at first sight, and I'll wager our dear uncle Joe fell over head and ears in love with aunt Dorothy after having danced with her two or three times at an assize ball," said I.
After this we became intensely serious, and I told my darling girl that I hoped very soon to be in possession of a small fixed income, and to have begun a professional career.

I told her how dear an incentive to work she had given me, and how little fear I had for the future.
I reminded her that Mr.Sheldon had no legal power to control her actions, and that, as her father's will had left her entirely to her mother's guardianship, she had only her mother's pleasure to consult.
"I believe poor mamma would let me marry a crossing-sweeper, if I cried and declared it would make me miserable not to marry him," said Charlotte; "but then, you see, mamma's wishes mean Mr.Sheldon's wishes; she is sure to think whatever he tells her to think; and if he is strongly against our marriage--" "As I am sure he will be," I interjected.
"He will work upon poor mamma in that calm, persistent, logical way of his till he makes her as much against it as himself." "But even your mamma has no legal power to control your actions, my love.

Were you not of age on your last birthday ?" My darling replied in the affirmative.
"Then of course you are free to marry whom you please; and as I am thankful to say you don't possess a single sixpence in your own right, there need be no fuss about settlements or pin-money.