Ferdinand Lee, the betrothed of Kate, a quiet, sensitive young man, had, perhaps, as strong a will as the young lady herself, though it was more under the control of reason.  He was naturally impatient of dictation or force, and a strong love of approbation made him feel keenly any thing like satire, ridicule or censure.  To point him to a fault was to wound if not offend him.  Here lay the weakness of his character.  All this, on the other side, was counterbalanced by kind feelings, good sense, and manly principles.  He was above all meanness or dishonour.

Of course, Kate did not fully understand his character.  Such a thing as a young girl’s accurate knowledge of the character of the man she is about to marry, is of very rare occurrence.  She saw enough of good qualities to make her love him with tenderness and devotion; but she also saw personal defects that were disagreeable in the object of her affections.  But she did not in the least doubt that all these she could easily correct in him after she became his wife.

From a defect of education, or from a natural want of neatness and order, Ferdinand Lee was inclined to (sic) carelessnes in his attire; and also exhibited a certain want of polish in his manners and address that was, at times, particularly annoying to Kate.

“I’ll break him of that when I get him,” said the young lady to a married friend, alluding to some little peculiarity both had noticed.

“Don’t be too certain,” returned the lady, smiling.

“You’ll see.”

Kate tossed her head in a resolute way.

“I’ll see you disappointed.”

“Wait a little while.  Before I’m his wife six months, you’ll hardly know the man, there’ll be such a change.”

“The change is far more likely to take place in you.”

“Why do you say that, Mrs. Morton?” inquired Kate, looking grave.

“Because I think so.  Men are not so easily brought into order, and the attempt at reformation and correction by a young wife generally ends in painful disappointment.  If you begin this work you will, in all probability, find yourself tasked beyond your ability.  I speak from some experience, having been married for about ten years, and having seen a good many young girls come up into our ranks from the walks of single blessedness.  Take my advice, and look away from Frederick’s faults and disagreeable peculiarities as much as possible, and think more of his manly traits of character—­his fine sentiments, and honourable principles.”

“I do look at them and love them,” replied Kate, with animation.  “These won my heart at first, and now unite me to him in bonds that cannot be broken.  But if on a precious gem there be a slight blemish that mars its beauty, shall we not seek to remove the defect, and thus give the jewel a higher lustre?  Will you say, no?”

“I will, if in the act there be danger of injuring the gem.”

“I don’t understand you, Mrs. Morton?”