"Do you realize what you are doing?" she asked him suddenly, once; "do you know that you are marrying a woman who has the makings of a termagant in her?"
He smiled, and replied that he was willing to run that risk.
On another occasion she besought him to tell her whether he did not in his heart believe it to be wicked to marry without love. "It must be wicked!—I am sure it must be! Though I don't think the Bible says anything about it."
"Neither the Bible nor I have a word to say against the practice," Dick answered.
"But perhaps you think it wrong, though you don't say so. Wouldn't you like to be off your bargain? Come!—there is still time."
"Well, hardly, is there? Think of the feelings of your family."
Hope burst into an hysterical laugh. "What would they do to me! It would be almost worth while to break the engagement off, if only for the sake of passing through such a startling experience. But of course I am talking nonsense," she added, becoming grave again. "I should never have the moral courage to retreat now: perhaps if I had had any moral courage I should never have advanced. It has all been your doing from first to last."
"I don't mind accepting the entire responsibility," said Dick.
That was the worst of him: he didn’t mind anything. It was this unreasonable complaint that Hope inwardly formulated against a man who let her do exactly what she pleased now, and who would in all probability continue to let her do what she pleased hereafter. Unquestionably such a treasure was thrown away upon her; and so, in truth, her friends appeared to think. When they came to congratulate her, they one and all expatiated upon Dick’s good qualities, and had an unflattering way of implying that she was a great deal more lucky than she deserved to be. Even Mills, who could not be accused of under-valuing her former mistress, was abundantly satisfied with the match, and spoke of Mr. Herbert in terms of such extravagant, not to say ignorant, eulogy that Hope could not help calling attention to one small defect of his. "He is sixteen years older than I am, you know, Mills."
"And a very good thing, too, Miss Hope. I don't feel no confidence in young men, nor yet no respect for 'em," said Mrs. Mills, whose own husband was considerably her junior. "What you want," she went on, "is somebody to take care of you; and that Mr. Herbert will do. I'd a deal sooner it was him than the other."
"What other?" Hope inquired.
"Why, him as you walked with that day in the Park, my dear. I
