"That surely is a dangerous doctrine for a young woman."
"Young women, I think, are compassed by many dangers," said Marion; "and I know but one way of meeting them."
"What way is that, dear?"
"I will tell you, if I can find how to tell it, to-morrow."
"There is one point, Marion, on which I feel myself bound to warn you, as I endeavoured also to warn him. To him my words seemed to have availed nothing; but you, I think, are more reasonable. Unequal marriages never make happy either the one side or the other."
"I hope I may do nothing to make him unhappy."
"Unhappy for a moment you must make him;—for a month, perhaps, or for a year; though it were for years, what would that be to his whole life?"
"For years?" said Marion. "No, not for years. Would it be more than for days, do you think?"
"I cannot tell what may be the nature of the young man's heart;—nor can you. But as to that, it cannot be your duty to take much thought. Of his lasting welfare you are bound to think."
"Oh, yes; of that certainly;—of that above all things."