Father, dear, you mustn't be vexed with me; and pray--pray do understand that no earthly thing would make me marry a man whom I dislike rather than otherwise; who, at least, is not a mate for me, merely because he could give me a fine house to live in, and treat me luxuriously.

What would be the good of such things to me if I knew that I had tarnished myself and violated my instincts ?" "You talk like a book--you talk like a book," muttered the old gentleman.

"But I know that the end of it will be wretchedness for everybody.

People who go on as you do about instincts, and fine feelings, and all that stuff, are just the ones who get into some dreadful mess at last.

I tell you that such ideas are some of the devil's best baits." Stella began to grow indignant.
"Do you think, father, that you ought to talk to me quite like that ?" she asked.