What if I see a life more delightful to me than that of which you dream ?" "You talk of a delightful life, Arnold; I spoke of an honorable career." "Mine will be a life of quiet work and love.

Yours, Clara, would be of noisy and troublesome work without love." "Without love, Arnold?
You are infatuated." She sunk into the chair and buried her face in her hands.

First, it was her lover who had deserted her for the sake of a governess, the daughter of some London tradesman; and now her adopted son, almost the only creature she loved, for whom she had schemed and thought for nearly twenty years, was ready to give up everything for the sake of another governess, also connected with the lower forms of commercial interests.
"It is very hard, Arnold," she said.

"No, don't try to persuade me.

I am getting an old woman, and it is too late for me to learn that a gentleman can be happy unless he marries a lady.