"But that would be wrong, unjust, and cruel."
"Perhaps so, my dear. It very often is."
"Are the gentlemen of the club the world?"
"Yes, part of it."
"Would they tell stories about me?"
"If they thought they saw anything suspicious in your conduct."
Helen reflected for a moment and then said, "I don't know what they could find suspicious in my conduct."
"No, my pet, neither do I," answered the kind old man with a benevolent smile. "The fact is, there are so many people in the world who find other people's business more interesting than their own; and even when they are unable to find a flaw in their neighbour's character, they will make one. Therefore, avoid the appearance of evil."
"Still, I don't understand," began Helen.
"No, my dear, and what's more, I can't explain," observed the old man. "But this I can tell you. The brute world, in cases of love, exacts marriage as the hallmark of respectability. It can see nothing but harm in the love of two young pure souls, however platonic—I mean innocent. They look upon it as dangerous, to say the least, and the only way to satisfy them and avoid scandal is to marry."