We consider that our respectability lies solely in our two selves." "But your neighbours ?" "Our neighbours may think of us exactly what they like.

Half the sting of poverty is gone when one keeps house for one's own comfort, and not for the comments of one's neighbours." "I should think not," Ursula cried, tossing back her head in merry defiance.

"Besides, we are young, we have few wants, and we can easily reduce our wants to our havings." "And no more grey silk gowns ?" said her husband, half-fondly, half-sadly.
"You will not be so rude as to say I shall not look equally well in a cotton one?
And as for being as happy in it--why, I know best." He smiled at her once more,--that tender, manly smile which made all soft and lustrous the inmost depths of his brown eyes; truly no woman need be afraid, with a smile like that, to be the strength, the guidance, the sunshine of her home.
We went in, and the young mistress showed us her new house; we investigated and admired all, down to the very scullery; then we adjourned to the sitting-room--the only one--and, after tea, Ursula arranged her books, some on stained shelves, which she proudly informed me were of John's own making, and some on an old spinet, which he had picked up, and which, he said, was of no other use than to hold books, since she was not an accomplished young lady, and could neither sing nor play.
"But you don't dislike the spinet, Ursula?
It caught my fancy.

Do you know I have a faint remembrance that once, on such a thing as this, my mother used to play ?" He spoke in a low voice; Ursula stole up to him with a fond, awed look.
"You never told me anything about your mother ?" "Dear, I had little to tell.

Long ago you knew whom you were going to marry--John Halifax, who had no friends, no kindred, whose parents left him nothing but his name." "And you cannot remember them ?" "My father not at all; my mother very little." "And have you nothing belonging to them ?" "Only one thing.