He found that if her father should "pepper her with persecution," as the old fellow said, before marriage, its consequences might fall upon his own unlucky head afterwards--in other words, that Helen would most assuredly make him then suffer, to some purpose, for all that his pretensions to her hand had occasioned her to undergo previous to their union; for, in truth, if there was one doctrine which Whitecraft detested more than another--and with good reason too--it was that of Retribution.
"Mr.Folliard," said Whitecraft in the very last conversation they had on this subject, "you must not persecute your daughter on my account." "Mustn't I?
Why hang it, Sir Robert, isn't persecution the order of the day?
If she doesn't marry you quietly and willingly, we'll turn her out, and hunt her like a priest." "No, Mr.Folliard, violence will never do.

On the contrary, you must change your hand, and try an opposite course.

If you wish to rivet her affections upon that Jesuitical traitor still more strongly, persecute her; for there is nothing in this life that strengthens love so much as opposition and violence.

The fair ones begin to look upon themselves as martyrs, and in proportion as you are severe and inexorable, so in proportion are they resolved to win the crown that is before them.

I would not press your daughter but that I believe love to be a thing that exists before marriage--never after.