ne, as a man with his wife, for
better or worse, and to the end. For how many years have the Spaniards
borne with their gracious queen, not because she was faultless, but
because she was there? So Chambers and grandees cried, God save her.
Alabarderos turned out: drums beat, cannons fired, and people saluted
Isabella Segunda, who was no better than the humblest washerwoman of her
subjects. Are we much better than our neighbours? Do we never yield to
our peculiar temptation, our pride, or our avarice or our vanity, or
what not? Ethel is very wrong certainly. But recollect, she is very
young. She is in other people's hands. She has been bred up and governed
by a very worldly family, and taught their traditions. We would hardly,
for instance, the staunchest Protestant in England would hardly be angry
with poor Isabella Segunda for being a Catholic. So if Ethel worships
at a certain image which a great number of good folks in England bow
to, let us not be too angry with her idolatry, and bear with our queen a
little before we make our pronunciamiento.

No, Miss Newcome, yours is not a dignified position in life, however you
may argue that hundreds of people in the world are doing like you. O
me! what a confession it is, in the very outset of life and blushing
brightness of youth's morning, to own that the aim with which a young
girl sets out, and the object of her existence, is to marry a rich man;
that she was endowed with beauty so that she might buy wealth, and a
title with it; that as sure as she has a soul to be saved, her business
here on earth is to try and get a rich husband. That is the career for
which many a woman is bred and trained. A young man begins the world
with some aspirations at least; he will try to be good and follow the
truth; he will strive to win honours for himself, and never do a base
action; he will pass nights over his books, and forgo ease and pleasure
so that he may achieve a name. Many a poor wretch who is worn-out now
and old, and bankrupt of fame and money too, has commenced life at
any rate with noble views and generous schemes, from which weakness,
idleness, passion, or overpowering hostile fortune have turned him away.
But a girl of the world, bon Dieu! the doctrine with which she begins
is that she is to have a wealthy husband: the article of faith in her
catechism is, "I believe in elder sons, and a house in town, and a house
in the country!" They are mercenary as they step fresh and bl