Therefore I think we owe Jacob a great many grudges.  He was the inventor of the tender passion, and since his time people have begun to follow his example long before they come to years of discretion, simply because their parents did so before them, and they think they are not grown up, that they are not men, unless they have some love affair on hand.

Some get married at once, some wait a long time, and some do not marry at all.  These last are, I think, generally the happiest, for this so-called love lasts for only a very short time, and neither husband nor wife are long before they console themselves with someone else’s affection to make up for what is wanting on the part of the other.

Of course I am speaking generally.  As far as I can see, the majority act thus, though I am glad to say that many and various are the exceptions.  It was only the other day I came across our washerwoman and asked her how she and her husband got on together.  He used to be a drunkard, and used her cruelly, but two years ago he took the pledge, and, what is more, he kept it.  “Lor’, mum,” she exclaimed fervently, “we draws nearer every day!” I am afraid not many husbands and wives could say the same.

People are so anxious to marry too.  I cannot understand them, men especially.  They have their clubs, they are entirely independent, and can go home as late as they please without being questioned as to their whereabouts.  And yet, as soon as they can, they saddle themselves with a wife, who requires at least half the money—­they have never found sufficient for themselves alone—­besides a great deal of looking after!

Women, on the contrary, are different.  They have to make some provision for the future, so to speak.  How do you like it, oh men! the idea that you, with your handsome personages and fascinating ways, are used only as a kind of insurance office?  This is the case very often, however, though you may not know it!

Yet others pursue the god Hymen merely for the sake of being married.  As soon as they leave the school-room, sometimes before, they begin their search for a husband, and look out for him in the person of every man they meet.  No matter who it is so long as they are married before So-and-So, and can triumph over all their friends.

It must be said for men that they are falling off in the marrying line.  This is not nearly such a proposing generation as the last.  Then they married much younger and seemed to propose after a few days’ acquaintance.  No, this is a more cautious age altogether.  Men look round carefully before they make their choice.  They sample it well, they watch it in the home circle, they watch it abroad, they watch it with other men, and finally come to the conclusion that it is worthy to be allied to their noble selves, or they don’t!

Another thing.  Men of the present day are so direfully afraid of a refusal!  So fearful are they, that rather than risk one, they give up many chances of happiness.