. He was a good man, but not of lively feelings.
Besides, he had another daughter, and they shared his love between them;
but she has no sister to share _my_ love. Calamity, too, has endeared
her to me; I am all her consolation, dependence, and hope, and nothing,
surely, can induce me to abandon her."

"Her reliance upon you for happiness," replied my friend, with a sigh,
"is plain enough."

"It is; but why that sigh? And yet I understand it. It remonstrates with
me on my incapacity for her support. I know it well, but it is wrong to
be cast down. I have youth, health, and spirits, and ought not to
despair of living for my own benefit and hers; but you sigh again, and
it is impossible to keep my courage when _you_ sigh. Do tell me what you
mean by it."

"You partly guessed the cause. She trusts to you for happiness, but I
somewhat suspect she trusts in vain."

"In vain! I beseech you, tell me why you think so."

"You say you love her: why then not make her your wife?"

"My wife! Surely her extreme youth, and my destitute condition, will
account for that."

"She is fifteen; the age of delicate fervour, of inartificial love, and
suitable enough for marriage. As to your condition, you may live more
easily together than apart. She has no false taste or perverse desires
to gratify. She has been trained in simple modes and habits. Besides,
that objection can be removed another way. But are these all your
objections?"

"Her youth I object to, merely in connection with her mind. She is too
little improved to be my wife. She wants that solidity of mind, that
maturity of intelligence which ten years more may possibly give her, but
which she cannot have at this age."

"You are a very prudential youth: then you are willing to wait ten years
for a wife?"

"Does that follow? Because my Bess will not be qualified for wedlock in
less time, does it follow that I must wait for her?"

"I spoke on the supposition that you loved her."

"And that is true; but love is satisfied with studying her happiness as
her father or brother. Some years hence, perhaps in half a year, (for
this passion, called wedded or _marriage-wishing_ love, is of sudden
growth,) my mind may change and nothing may content me but to have Bess
for my wife. Yet I do not expect it."

"Then you are determined against marriage with this girl?"

"Of course; until that love comes which I feel not now; but which, no
doubt, will come, when Bess has had the bene