I wonder whether he ever thinks of me; and I wonder whether I shall ever see him again.

And then might follow a train of other wonderments--questions for time and fate to answer--concluding with--Supposing all the rest be answered in the affirmative, I wonder whether I shall ever repent it?
as my aunt would tell me I should, if she knew what I was thinking about.
How distinctly I remember our conversation that evening before our departure for town, when we were sitting together over the fire, my uncle having gone to bed with a slight attack of the gout.
'Helen,' said she, after a thoughtful silence, 'do you ever think about marriage ?' 'Yes, aunt, often.' 'And do you ever contemplate the possibility of being married yourself, or engaged, before the season is over ?' 'Sometimes; but I don't think it at all likely that I ever shall.' 'Why so ?' 'Because, I imagine, there must be only a very, very few men in the world that I should like to marry; and of those few, it is ten to one I may never be acquainted with one; or if I should, it is twenty to one he may not happen to be single, or to take a fancy to me.' 'That is no argument at all.

It may be very true--and I hope is true, that there are very few men whom you would choose to marry, of yourself.
It is not, indeed, to be supposed that you would wish to marry any one till you were asked: a girl's affections should never be won unsought.
But when they are sought--when the citadel of the heart is fairly besieged--it is apt to surrender sooner than the owner is aware of, and often against her better judgment, and in opposition to all her preconceived ideas of what she could have loved, unless she be extremely careful and discreet.

Now, I want to warn you, Helen, of these things, and to exhort you to be watchful and circumspect from the very commencement of your career, and not to suffer your heart to be stolen from you by the first foolish or unprincipled person that covets the possession of it .-- You know, my dear, you are only just eighteen; there is plenty of time before you, and neither your uncle nor I are in any hurry to get you off our hands, and I may venture to say, there will be no lack of suitors; for you can boast a good family, a pretty considerable fortune and expectations, and, I may as well tell you likewise--for, if I don't, others will--that you have a fair share of beauty besides--and I hope you may never have cause to regret it!' 'I hope not, aunt; but why should you fear it ?' 'Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore, it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.' 'Have you been troubled in that way, aunt ?' 'No, Helen,' said she, with reproachful gravity, 'but I know many that have; and some, through carelessness, have been the wretched victims of deceit; and some, through weakness, have fallen into snares and temptations terrible to relate.' 'Well, I shall be neither careless nor weak.' 'Remember Peter, Helen! Don't boast, but watch.

Keep a guard over your eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the outlet, lest they betray you in a moment of unwariness.