“Yes, brother, and I know it may not come at all; no really pious woman can be happy, without her husband is in what she deems the road to future happiness himself; and it is idle—­it is worse—­it is almost impious to marry with a view to reform a husband:  indeed, she greatly endangers her own safety thereby; for few of us, I believe, but find the temptation to err as much as we can contend with, without calling in the aid of example against us, in an object we love; indeed it appears to me, the life of such a woman must be a struggle between conflicting duties.”

“Why,” said the baronet, “if your plan were generally adopted, I am afraid it would give a deadly blow to matrimony.”

“I have nothing to do with generals, brother, I am acting for individual happiness, and discharging individual duties:  at the same time I cannot agree with you in its effects on the community.  I think no man who dispassionately examines the subject, will be other than a Christian; and rather than remain bachelors, they would take even that trouble; if the strife in our sex were less for a husband, wives would increase in value.”

“But how is it, Charlotte,” said the baronet, pleasantly, “your sex do not use your power and reform the age?”

“The work of reformation, Sir Edward,” replied his sister, gravely, “is an arduous one indeed, and I despair of seeing it general, in my day; but much, very much, might be done towards it, if those who have the guidance of youth would take that trouble with their pupils that good faith requires of them, to discharge the minor duties of life.”

“Women ought to marry,” observed the baronet, musing.

“Marriage is certainly the natural and most desirable state for a woman,” but how few are there who, having entered it, know how to discharge its duties; more particularly those of a mother!  On the subject of marrying our daughters, for instance, instead of qualifying them to make a proper choice, they are generally left to pick up such principles and opinions as they may come at, as it were by chance.  It is true, if the parent be a Christian in name, certain of the externals of religion are observed; but what are these, if not enforced by a consistent example in the instructor?”

“Useful precepts are seldom lost, I believe, sister,” said Sir Edward, with confidence.

“Always useful, my dear brother; but young people are more observant than we are apt to imagine, and are wonderfully ingenious in devising excuses to themselves for their conduct.  I have often heard it offered as an apology, that father or mother knew it, or perhaps did it, and therefore it could not be wrong:  association is all-important to a child.”

“I believe no family of consequence admits of improper associates within my knowledge,” said the baronet.

Mrs. Wilson smiled as she answered, “I am sure I hope not, Edward; but are the qualifications we require in companions for our daughters, always such as are most reconcileable with our good sense or our consciences; a single communication with an objectionable character is a precedent, if known and unobserved, which will be offered to excuse acquaintances with worse persons:  with the other sex, especially, their acquaintance should be very guarded and select.”