"You are right, my child; this infirmity is an insuperable obstacle that will unfortunately prevent him from achieving success in any career; from creating any position for himself, and even from marrying, except in dreams, understand."
"I don't understand you at all, my dear father. I really don't."
"What! my child, don't you understand that it would be folly in any woman to marry a half-blind man who cannot see ten feet in front of him? don't you understand that in such a case the rôles would be entirely reversed, and that, instead of protecting his wife, as every man ought to do, M. Onésime will have to be protected by the woman who would be foolish enough to marry him?"
"It seems to me only right that the person who is able to protect the other should do so."
"Certainly; but this duty devolves upon the man."
"Yes, when he is able to fulfil this duty; when he is not, it devolves upon the wife."
"If she is foolish enough, I repeat, to accept such a life of self-sacrifice and weighty responsibility."
"Foolish?"
"Idiotic, rather. Don't look at me so indignantly."
"Listen to me, father."