It is cruel to meddle with them before their time--to take the bloom off the peach and the scent off the rose; to put worldliness instead of innocence, and conceited folly instead of simple, solemn, awful love.

I would rather die, even now--you will think I am always ready for dying--but I would rather die than live to think and feel about love like some women--ay, and not bad women either, whom I have known." Mrs.Grey had gone on, hardly considering what she was saying or to what it referred, till she was startled to feel fixed upon her her husband's earnest eyes.
"You need not be afraid," said he smiling.

"Christian, shall I tell you a little secret?
Do you know why I loved you?
Because you are unlike all other women--because you bring hack to me the dreams of my youth.

And here," suddenly rising, as if he feared he had said too much, "we must put dreams aside, and arguments likewise, for Aunt Henrietta will never forgive us if we are late at this terrible evening party.".