“Let us speak of yourself.  You hope to be a husband and a father; have you seriously considered your duties?  When you become the head of a family you will become a citizen of your country.  And what is a citizen of the state?  What do you know about it?  You have studied your duties as a man, but what do you know of the duties of a citizen?  Do you know the meaning of such terms as government, laws, country?  Do you know the price you must pay for life, and for what you must be prepared to die?  You think you know everything, when you really know nothing at all.  Before you take your place in the civil order, learn to perceive and know what is your proper place.

“Emile, you must leave Sophy; I do not bid you forsake her; if you were capable of such conduct, she would be only too happy not to have married you; you must leave her in order to return worthy of her.  Do not be vain enough to think yourself already worthy.  How much remains to be done!  Come and fulfil this splendid task; come and learn to submit to absence; come and earn the prize of fidelity, so that when you return you may indeed deserve some honour, and may ask her hand not as a favour but as a reward.”

Unaccustomed to struggle with himself, untrained to desire one thing and to will another, the young man will not give way; he resists, he argues.  Why should he refuse the happiness which awaits him?  Would he not despise the hand which is offered him if he hesitated to accept it?  Why need he leave her to learn what he ought to know?  And if it were necessary to leave her why not leave her as his wife with a certain pledge of his return?  Let him be her husband, and he is ready to follow me; let them be married and he will leave her without fear.  “Marry her in order to leave her, dear Emile! what a contradiction!  A lover who can leave his mistress shows himself capable of great things; a husband should never leave his wife unless through necessity.  To cure your scruples, I see the delay must be involuntary on your part; you must be able to tell Sophy you leave her against your will.  Very well, be content, and since you will not follow the commands of reason, you must submit to another master.  You have not forgotten your promise.  Emile, you must leave Sophy; I will have it.”

For a moment or two he was downcast, silent, and thoughtful, then looking me full in the face he said, “When do we start?” “In a week’s time,” I replied; “Sophy must be prepared for our going.  Women are weaker than we are, and we must show consideration for them; and this parting is not a duty for her as it is for you, so she may be allowed to bear it less bravely.”