“She is worthy of your sympathy, as she is of your love.”
“But you forget that I have a wife.”
“No, I do not forget that. I mean, that if you were free, she is a worthy object.”
“But even if I were single, I could not marry this woman.”
“Could not; why not?”
“What! marry a Cashmere woman?”
“Yes; is there anything so outré in that? You would not be the first Englishman who has done such a thing. Why, I have known Britishers mate with North American Indian women before now.”
“True; but still the idea of Haidee being my wife is such a novel one that I cannot realise it.”
“The heart is a riddle; and human affections are governed by no fixed laws.”
“But really, Martin, we are discussing this matter to no purpose. If Haidee entertains any such passion as that you speak of, it is unfortunate.”