Pride, and the parade of life, destroy all happiness: our whole felicity depends on our choice in marriage, yet we chuse from motives more trifling than would determine us in the common affairs of life.
I knew a gentleman who fancied himself in love, yet delayed marrying his mistress till he could afford a set of plate.
Modern manners are very unfavorable to the tender affections.
Ancient lovers had only dragons to combat; ours have the worse monsters of avarice and ambition.
All I shall say further on the subject is, that the two happiest people I ever knew were a country clergyman and his wife, whose whole income did not exceed one hundred pounds a year.
A pretty philosophical, sentimental, dull kind of an epistle this!
But you deserve it, for not answering my last, which was divine.
I am pleased with Emily’s ideas about her dress at the masquerade; it is a proof you are still lovers.
I remember, the first symptoms I discovered of my tendresse for Fitzgerald was my excessive attention to this article: I have tried on twenty different caps when I expected him at Silleri.
Before we drop the subject of gallantries, I must tell you I am charmed with you and my sposo, for never giving the least hint before Emily and me that you have had any; it is a piece of delicacy which convinces me of your tenderness more than all the vows that ever lovers broke would do.