“Had you said, never to force the affections of your children, you would have said enough, Anne; but to control, or rather to guide the affections of a child, especially a daughter, is, in some cases, a duty as imperative as it would be to avert any other impending calamity.  Surely the proper time to do this is before the affections of the child are likely to endanger her peace of mind.”

“I have seldom seen much good result from the interference of parents,” said Lady Moseley, a little pertinaciously.

“True; for to be of use, unless in extraordinary cases, it should not be seen.  You will pardon me, Anne, but I have often thought parents are too often in extremes—­determined to make the election for their children, or leaving them entirely to their own vanity and inexperience, to govern not only their own lives, but, I may say, to leave an impression on future generations.  And, after all, what is this love?  In nineteen cases in twenty of what we call affairs of the heart, it would be better to term them affairs of the imagination."

“And is there not a great deal of imagination in all love?” inquired Lady Moseley, smiling.

“Undoubtedly, there is some; but there is one important difference:  in affairs of the imagination, the admired object is gifted with all those qualities we esteem, as a matter of course, and there is a certain set of females who are ever ready to bestow this admiration on any applicant for their favors who may not be strikingly objectionable.  The necessity of being courted makes our sex rather too much disposed to admire improper suitors.”

“But how do you distinguish affairs of the heart, Charlotte, from those of the fancy?”

“When the heart takes the lead, it is not difficult to detect it.  Such sentiments generally follow long intercourse, and opportunities of judging the real character.  They are the only attachments that are likely to stand the test of worldly trials.”

“Suppose Emily to be the object of Colonel Egerton’s pursuit, then, sister, in what manner would you proceed to destroy the influence I acknowledge he is gaining over Jane?”

“I cannot suppose such a case,” said Mrs. Wilson, gravely; and then, observing that her sister looked as if she required an explanation, she continued—­

“My attention has been directed to the forming of such principles, and such a taste, if I may use the expression, under those principles, that I feel no apprehension Emily will ever allow her affections to be ensnared by a man of the opinions and views of Colonel Egerton.  I am impressed with a twofold duty in watching the feelings of my charge.  She has so much singleness of heart, such real strength of native feeling, that, should an improper man gain possession of her affections, the struggle between her duty and her love would be weighty indeed; and should it proceed so far as to make it her duty to love an unworthy object, I am sure she would sink under it.  Emily would die in the same, circumstances under which Jane would only awake from a dream, and be wretched.”