He had quickly made up his mind and to answer the more quietly-- "My dear boy, you are too young to be taking momentous, decisive steps of that sort.

This is a fancy which you have got into your head during an idle week or two: you must set to work at something and dismiss it.
There is every reason against it.

An engagement at your age would be totally rash and unjustifiable; and moreover, alliances between first cousins are undesirable.

Make up your mind to a brief disappointment.
Life is full of them.

We have all got to be broken in; and this is a mild beginning for you." "No, not mild.