Would I think of him, if, in the course of time, he could enter the church and marry me?
'Now I had the world before me, a happy home, a prospect of a certain independence, and, I suppose, a sufficient share of personal attractions.

I had never considered whether I could like this young man or not; but I had well considered that when I married, I must have talent, position, personal beauty, and a hundred other visionary attributes in my husband.

I was of a most imaginative, and at the same time, ambitious temperament; and on the one hand, thought a great poet or warrior would fall to my lot, and on the other, that a prince of the blood royal was not too good for me.
'Your pride, my dear Freda, is too matter-of-fact, as is your general character, thoroughly to understand me.

At that time I was touched and flattered by the devotion of this young man, and felt, that had he been differently placed, and had he more of the attributes either of station or romance about him, I might have taken him under my august consideration; but as I had never even looked upon him in the light of a lover, or supposed it possible that he could be one, I at once, and decidedly refused him.
'I shall never forget the pained and melancholy expression of his features when I did so, or the few words he uttered.

He said that he had not ventured to hope for a different answer, though he had dared to speak, and that his one slight prospect of happiness had vanished.