Think of our common phrases, such as 'choice of a wife'; think of
the perfectly sound advice given by sage elders to the young who are
thinking of marriage, implying deliberation, care. What have these
things to do with love? You can no more choose to be a lover, than
to be a poet. _Nascitur non fit_--oh yes, I know my Latin.
Generally, he man or woman born for love is born for nothing else."
"A deplorable state of things!" exclaimed Irene, laughing.
"Yes--or no. Who knows? Such people ought to die young. But I
don't say that it is invariably the case. To be capable of loving,
and at the same time to have other faculties, and the will to use
them--ah! There's your complete human being."
"I think----" Irene began, and stopped, her voice failing.
"You think, _belle Irene_?"
"Oh, I was going to say that all this seems to me sensible and
right. It doesn't disturb me."
"Why should it?"
"I think I will tell you, Helen, that my motive in marrying is the
same as yours was."
"I surmised it."
"But, you know, there the similarity will end. It is quite certain"
--she laughed--"that I shall have no six-months' vacations. At
present, I don't think I shall desire them."
"No. To speak frankly, I auger well of your marriage."
These words affected Irene with a sense of relief. She had imagined
that Mrs. Borisoff thought otherwise. A bright smile sunned her
countenance; Helen, observing it, smiled too, but more thoughtfully.
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