[The Last of the Foresters by John Esten Cooke]@TWC D-Link book
The Last of the Foresters

CHAPTER LVII
5/9

I can only give you my general ideas on the subject of marriage.

If you apply them, that is your affair.

A pretty thing on an oath of discovery," murmured the poetical lawyer.
Verty had not heard the last words; he was reflecting.

Roundjacket watched him with a strange, wistful look, which had much kindness and feeling in it.
"But why not marry ?" said Verty, at last; "it seems to me sir, that people ought to marry; I think I could find a great many good reasons for it." "Could you; how many ?" "A hundred, I suppose." "And I could find a thousand against it," said Roundjacket.

"Mark me, sir--except under certain circumstances, a man is not the same individual after marrying--he deteriorates." "Anan ?" said Verty.
"I mean, that in most cases it is for the worse--the change of condition.
"How, sir ?" "Observe the married man," replied Roundjacket, philosophically--"see his brow laden with cares, his important look, his solemn deportment.
None of the lightness and carelessness of the bachelor." Verty nodded, as much as to say that there was a great deal of truth in this much.
"Then observe the glance," continued Roundjacket, "if I may be permitted to use a colloquialism which is coming into use--there is not that brilliant cut of the eye, which you see in us young fellows--it is all gone, sir!" Verty smiled.
"The married man frequently delegates his soul to his better half," continued Roundjacket, rising with his subject; "all his independence is gone.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books