"It's a tragedy we all have to face, for that matter." "But so much later," said Lady Mary, quickly.
"I don't see why women should leave off wanting to be happy any sooner than men," he said stoutly.
"But Nature does," she answered.
John's eyes twinkled.

"For my part, I am thankful to fate, which caused me to fall in love with a woman only ten years my junior, instead of with a girl young enough to be my daughter.

I have gained a companion as well as a wife; and marvellously adaptive as young women are, I am conceited enough to think my ideas have travelled beyond the ideas of most girls of eighteen; and I am not conceited enough to suppose the girl of eighteen would not find me an old fogey very much in the way.

Let boys mate with girls, say I, and men with women." Lady Mary smiled in spite of herself.

"You know, John, you would argue entirely the other way round if you happened to be in love with--Sarah," she said.
"To be sure," said John; "it's my trade to argue for the side which retains my services.