Do you know, Mr.
Carrington, I'm not clever or serious, like Madeleine, and I can't read laws, and hate politics, but I've more common sense than she has, and she makes me cross with her.

I understand now why young widows are dangerous, and why they're bumed at their husband's funerals in India.
Not that I want to have Madeleine burned, for she's a dear, good creature, and I love her better than anything in the world; but she will certainly do herself some dreadful mischief one of these days; she has the most extravagant notions about self-sacrifice and duty; if she hadn't luckily thought of taking charge of me, she would have done some awful thing long ago, and if I could only be a little wicked, she would be quite happy all the rest of her life in reforming me; but now she has got hold of that Mr.Ratcliffe, and he is trying to make her think she can reform him, and if he does, it's all up with us.

Madeleine will just go and break her heart over that odious, great, coarse brute, who only wants her money." Sybil delivered this little oration with a degree of energy that went to Carrington's heart.

She did not often make such sustained efforts, and it was clear that on this subject she had exhausted her whole mind.
Carrington was delighted, and urged her on.

"I dislike Mr.Ratcliffe as much as you do;--more perhaps.