THE EVENING BEFORE MARRIAGE. 251 
" So soon as they degenerate into insipid indo- 
lence and listlessness." 
" And manly courage ? " 
" Becomes imperious rudeness." 
" And modest diffidence ? " 
" Turns to fawning humility." 
*' And noble pride ? " 
" To vulgar haughtiness." 
" And readiness to oblige ? " 
" Becomes a habit of too ready friendship and 
servility." 
" DeaR aunt, you make me almost angry. My 
future husband can never degenerate thus. He 
has one virtue which will preserve him as he is 
forever. A deep sense, an indestructible feeling 
for every thing that is good, and great, and noble, 
dwell in his bosom. And this delicate suscepti- 
bility to all that is noble dwells in me, also, I 
hope, as well as in him. This is the innate 
pledge and security for our happiness." 
" But if it should grow old with you ; if it 
should change to hateful excitability ; and excita- 
bility IS THE WORST ENEMY OF MATRIMONY. YoU 
both possess sensibility. That I do not deny ; but 
beware lest this grace should degenerate, and be- 
come irritable and quarrelsome." 
" Ah, dearest, if I might never become old ! I 
could then be sure that my husband would never 
cease to love me." 
" Thou art greatly in error, dear child. "Wert 
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