“Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me sooner about it. Still,” he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion of it I should not wish to see cancelled—I mean your advocacy with Miss Clinton.”
“To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I won't promise advocacy.”
“Well neutrality?”
“The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush. I have reason to think that my sister's objections against you are insuperable.”
“On what do they rest?” asked the other.
“They are founded upon your want of morals,” replied Clinton.
“Well, suppose I reform my morals?”
“That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the elements of reformation are rather slight within you.”
“Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be judged of his morals before marriage, but after.”
“Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated, right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to be such.”