und she did not, and was miserable.
Many of her new friends had lovers, so why should not she; and presently
she began to amuse herself with this Louis Gustave Isadore Theodule de
Roueville--There's a name for a Christian man! Well, she began in play,
grew in earnest, and when she could bear her domestic trouble no longer
she just ran away, ruining herself for this life, and really I don't
know but for the next also."

"Poor soul! I always thought she was a fool, but upon my word I pity
her," said Mark.

"Remember she was very young, so far away from her mother, with no real
friend to warn and help her, and love is so sweet. No wonder she went."

"Sylvia, how can you excuse her in that way? She should have done her
duty whether she loved the old gentleman or not, and kept her troubles
to herself in a proper manner. You young girls think so much of love, so
little of moral obligations, decorum, and the opinions of the world, you
are not fit judges of the case. Mr. Warwick agrees with me, I am sure."

"Not in the least."

"Do you mean to say that Helen should have left her husband?"

"Certainly, if she could not love him."

"Do you also mean to say that she did right to run off with that Gustave
Isadore Theodule creature?"

"By no means. It is worse than folly to attempt the righting of one
wrong by the commission of another."

"Then what in the world should she have done?"

"She should have honestly decided which she loved, have frankly told the
husband the mistake both had made, and demanded her liberty. If the
lover was worthy, have openly married him and borne the world's
censures. If not worthy, have stood alone, an honest woman in God's
eyes, whatever the blind world might have thought."

Prue was scandalized to the last degree, for with her marriage was more
a law than a gospel; a law which ordained that a pair once yoked should
abide by their bargain, be it good or ill, and preserve the proprieties
in public no matter how hot a hell their home might be for them and for
their children.

"What a dreadful state society would be in if your ideas were adopted!
People would constantly be finding out that they were mismatched, and go
running about as if playing that game where every one changes places.
I'd rather die at once than live to see such a state of things as that,"
said the worthy spinster.

"So would I, and recommend prevention rather than a dangerous cure."

"I really should like to hear your