"Not love him!"
"No, nor never can."
"Then why, my dearest young lady, do you marry him?"
"You may well ask; why indeed?"
"You seemed very friendly with him the day I saw you together, and happier than I could have wished you."
"That was before I knew I was to be his wife. It has only been decided upon a few days."
"And now?"
"It is a long story, that I may tell you if we should meet again. I never can love him, though I greatly esteem him, and—"
"Esteem!"
"A sad substitute for love; but what is love without esteem?"