1819] Bessy's Advice 127 



sweet and candid picture you have given me of your own 

 heart without being persuaded that you will be unhappy 

 in giving up Sismondi, and which of us would not a thousand 

 times rather see you happy with him, than have your 

 society, if you yourself are to be the victim of your too 

 tender nature ? We have all made our election without 

 reference to you, and you have a full right to do the same. 

 In comparing your situation and ours, we don't stand at 

 all upon the same ground. We risk the loss of a very great 

 pleasure, but you risk the happiness of your life; therefore 

 dear dear Jessie, lay aside every consideration that will 

 prevent your seeing what that is, and be assured we all love 

 you too dearly to repine, if happiness should be the result, 

 whichever way you decide. Perhaps the die will be cast 

 before this reaches you, and if it is, I am anxious that you 

 should feel no misgivings to torment you. To be united to 

 a man you so entirely love and approve, is worth some 

 sacrifices ; and you must let it balance whatever there is of 

 this nature in marrying Sismondi. From having lived two 

 years abroad, you are a better judge of the life you are likely 

 to lead than most women who follow their husbands to a 

 distant country, and very few women have had the oppor- 

 tunities of knowing the character of the man they marry 

 that you have. I think you cannot be happy in giving 

 up the man you love, and I see no reason to doubt your 

 being happy with him. I don't touch upon income, because 

 no doubt you have not let that go without some considera- 

 tion. I say nothing of my own opinion of him, because I 

 saw too little of him to make it of any importance, but he 

 appeared to me everything that is amiable, and his senti- 

 ments and tastes are all so congenial to your own, that if he 

 lived in England, and had a little more money, we should all 

 rejoice in the connection. . . . 



Your account of the children is delightful, and I am con- 

 vinced from what you say that it is a good thing to teach 

 children to be affectionate, and it is not so likely to do 

 (what I used to fear) give them grimace, as to inspire them 

 with the real feeling. . . . 



