"Married people ought to love each other so that they could not be parted." "You have never been in a position to judge how they ought to love each other," said Miss Deborah sharply.

"But this is what comes of youthful marriages, Gifford.

A person should have reached years of maturity before thinking of marriage.

Such things do not happen when people are reasonably old"-- "But not too old, sister," Miss Ruth interrupted, a little color creeping into her faded cheek.
Miss Deborah did not notice the amendment; she was anxious to hear the practical side of the matter, and had questions to ask about Helen's money, and whether Gifford supposed that that man would do anything for her; but except their grave disapproval that Helen should differ from her husband, nothing was said of theology.

As they talked, the sisters grew full of sympathy, which waxed and waned as they thought of Helen's sorrow, or the impropriety of her action.
"I shall make her some jelly directly," said Miss Deborah, "and put in plenty of Madeira; the poor thing needs strength." "This must be the reason," Miss Ruth said,--she had put her brushes down some time ago,--"that she was in such distress that day at her mother's grave.