"Such a man is incapable of making any woman a wife." Hesper meant an awful spiritual fact, of which, with all her ignorance of human nature, she had yet got a glimpse in her tortured reflections of late; but her mother's familiarity with evil misinterpreted her innocence, and caused herself utter dismay.

What right had a girl to think at all for herself in such matters?
Those were things that must be done, not thought of! "These things must not be thought After these ways; so, they will drive us mad." Yes, these things are hard to think about--harder yet to write about! The very persons who would send the white soul into arms whose mere touch is a dishonor will be the first to cry out with indignation against that writer as shameless who but utters the truth concerning the things they mean and do; they fear lest their innocent daughters, into whose hands his books might chance, by ill luck, to fall, should learn that it is _their_ business to keep themselves pure .-- Ah, sweet mothers! do not be afraid.

You have brought them up so carefully, that they suspect you no more than they do the well-bred gentlemen you would have them marry.

And have they not your blood in them?
That will go far.

Never heed the foolish puritan.