And even if, after a long courtship, something wrong should be discovered, either you have proceeded too far in honour to retract, or are so blinded by your own feelings as to extenuate it.

Now, it is only the parents and near relations of a young woman who can be witnesses to her real character, unless it be, indeed, her own maid, whom one could not condescend to interrogate." "That is all very true, Frank; but recollect the same observations apply to your sex as well as ours.

Lovers and husbands are very different beings.

It is quite a lottery on both sides." "I agree with you, my dear mother; and, as marry I must, so shall it be a lottery with me--I will leave it to chance, and not to myself: then, if I am unfortunate, I will blame my stars, and not have to accuse myself of a want of proper discrimination." Lord Aveleyn took up a sheet of paper, and, dividing it into small slips, wrote upon them the names of the different young ladies proposed by his mother.

Folding them up, he threw them on the table before her, and requested that she would select any one of the papers.
The dowager took up one.
"I thank you, madam," said Lord Aveleyn, taking the paper from her hand, and opening it--"'Louisa Manners.' Well, then, Louisa Manners it shall be; always provided that she does not refuse me.