The eye and lip of a pretty woman--a bright eye and a rosy
cheek, have diverted you from your duties."
"But do our duties deny us the indulgence of proper sensibilities?"
"Certainly not--PROPER sensibilities, on the contrary, prescribe
our duties."
"But love, sir--is not love a proper sensibility?"
"In its place, it is. But you are a boy only. Do you suppose that
it was ever intended that you should entertain this passion before
you had learned the art of providing your own food? Not so; and the
proof of this is to be found in the fact that the loves of boyhood
are never of a permanent character. No such passion can promote
happiness if it is indulged before the character of the parties is
formed. I now tell you that in five years from this time you will
probably forget Miss Cooper."
"Never! never!"
"Well, well--I go farther in my prophecy. Allow me to suppose you
successful in your suit, which I fancy can never be the case--"
"Why, sir, why?"
"Because she is not the girl for you; or rather, she does not think
you the man for her!"
"But why do you think so, sir?"
"Because I know you both.
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