“O mother!” cried the poor girl, “I cannot myself explain to you how it all happened.”
“But, Anna!”
“I love Charles,” cried Anna, wildly; “I love him, that is all I know about it!”
“But tell me, Anna, have you ever seriously asked yourself whether you feel for him that deep and lasting affection without which no woman ought to permit the addresses of any man?”
“Yes, mother.”
“Have you asked yourself whether this man, who has for the moment gained your affections, is the one to whom you are prepared to devote your whole life?”
“Yes, mother,” replied Anna, bravely, “yes, mother, for my love for him rests entirely on the noble qualities which distinguish him from all others. It is his honest heart especially which has won my love.”
“Now all this, Anna,” resumed Mrs. van Gulpendam, “is somewhat frivolous.”
“Frivolous, mother!” cried the young girl; “do you call it frivolous that my eye has been open not to mere outward show, not to the mere superficial varnish and polish of society; but to genuine and substantial qualities, to sterling firmness of character and to honesty of principle?”
“Tut, tut, tut!” exclaimed Laurentia, “these are mighty fine words indeed.”