"I must know by what standards Mr. Carleton will be guided, before I agree to any such thing," said Fleda.
"Standards! but aren't you going to trust anybody in anything, without knowing what standards they go by ?"
"Would that be a safe rule to follow in general?" said Fleda, smiling.
"You wont be a true woman if you don't follow it, sooner or later, my dear Fleda," said Mrs. Evelyn. "Every woman must."
"The later the better, Ma'am, I cannot help thinking."
"You will change your mind," said Mrs. Evelyn, complacently.
"Mamma's notions, Mr. Stackpole, would satisfy any man's pride, when she is expatiating upon the subject of woman's dependence," said Florence.
"The dependence of affection," said Mrs. Evelyn. "Of course! It's their lot. Affection always leads a true woman to merge her separate judgment, on anything, in the judgment of the beloved object."
"Ay," said Fleda, laughing, "suppose her affection is wasted on an object that has none?"
"My dear Fleda!" said Mrs. Evelyn, with a funny expression, "that can never be, you know; don't you remember what your favourite, Longfellow, says, 'Affection never is wasted'? Florence, my love, just hand me 'Evangeline,' there I want you to listen to it, Mr. Stackpole, here it is