That
will be said because people think that heroes in books should be so
much better than heroes got up for the world's common wear and tear.
I may as well confess that of absolute, true heroism there was only
a moderate admixture in Lord Lufton's composition; but what would
the world come to if none but absolute true heroes were to be thought
worthy of women's love? What would the men do? and what--oh! what
would become of the women? Lucy Robarts in her heart did not give her
dismissed lover credit for much more heroism than did truly appertain
to him;--did not, perhaps, give him full credit for a certain amount
of heroism which did really appertain to him; but, nevertheless, she
would have been very glad to take him could she have done so without
wounding her pride.
That girls should not marry for money we are all agreed. A lady who
can sell herself for a title or an estate, for an income or a set
of family diamonds, treats herself as a farmer treats his sheep and
oxen--makes hardly more of herself, of her own inner self, in which
are comprised a mind and soul, than the poor wretch of her own sex
who earns her bread in the lowest stage of degradation. But a title,
and an estate, and an income, are matters which will weigh in the
balance with all Eve's daughters--as they do with all Adam's sons.
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