‘And wilt thou show no more, quoth he,
Than doth thy duty bind?
I well perceive thy love is small.’
On the Sunday evening which followed Eleanor’s wedding, Lilias was sitting next to Emily, and talking in very earnest tones, which after a time occasioned Claude to look up and say, ‘What is all this about? Something remarkably absurd I suspect.’
‘Only a new principle,’ said Emily.
‘New!’ cried Lily, ‘only what must be the feeling of every person of any warmth of character?’
‘Now for it then,’ said Claude.
‘No, no, Claude, I really mean it (and Lily sincerely thought she did). I will not tell you if you are going to laugh.’
‘That depends upon what your principle may chance to be,’ said Claude. ‘What is it, Emily? She will be much obliged to you for telling.’
‘She only says she cannot bear people to do their duty, and not to act from a feeling of love,’ said Emily.
‘That is not fair,’ returned Lily, ‘all I say is, that it is better that people should act upon love for its own sake, than upon duty for its own sake.’
‘What comes in rhyme with Lily?’ said Claude.