"Before you are twenty-one you will have gone through many stages of that fever.

Youth is almost invariably liberal, age conservative.

Adopt what line of politics you will, but do not bring theory into practice in this instance." "I should consider myself a hero," continued the young man, "if I could be the first to break through the trammels of custom and the absurd laws of caste." "You would not be the first," said Lord Earle, quietly.

"Many before you have made unequal marriages; many will do so after you, but in every case I believe regret and disappointment followed." "They would not in my case," said Ronald, eagerly; "and with Dora Thorne by my side, I could so anything; without her, I can do nothing." Lord Earle looked grieved at the pertinacity of his son.
"Most fathers would refuse to hear all this nonsense, Ronald," he said, gently.

"I listen, and try to convince you by reasonable arguments that the step you seem bent upon taking is one that will entail nothing but misery.