"Not as to the wish. The hope might be more assured if you already knew, and loved, him who is to be your husband. It is a great hazard to promise to marry one whom we have never seen."
"It is the way these things are managed in France," said Adeline.
"And the cause that such doubtful felicity condescends to alight on a French mènage," broke forth Rose, who had been temporarily silent. "The wives make it out in their intrigues, though. It is a dangerous game, Adeline. Take care."
"I hope you do not consider it necessary to warn me against such danger," exclaimed Adeline, the crimson flying to her cheeks.
"No; for you have not a particle of the French nature about you," fearlessly returned Rose. "To you, strong in right principle, in refinement of feeling, it can bring only suffering--a yearning after what must never be."
"Englishwomen do not always marry where they love," mused Adeline.
"Seldom or never," answered Rose. "With them the passion is generally over. They go more into society, have opportunities of mixing freely, as girls, with the other sex, which you have not, and so the years pass, and by the time their marriage comes, the heart is at rest; its life has left it."
"Then their marriage, even by your own showing, seems to be much on a par with what mine will be."
"Their marriage is, Adeline, but their love is over, yours has to come. There lies the difficulty: and the danger."
"Where did you get all these wise ideas from?" inquired Adeline, much amused.