“Don’t speak of such a thing, husband, I cannot consent to part with her for the next four or five years.” “Yet you want to get rid of Caroline.” “I have already told you my motives; there never were two sisters more unlike.” “Edith has all the prudence and kindliness which befits a good wife, and therefore deserves to be well mated.” “She does not seem to think of such a thing as marriage, and I am truly glad she is so indifferent about it, indeed I almost believe that Edith is destined to be an old maid.” “It needs no great prophetic skill to predict that, if you keep her forever in the back-ground.” “I am sure I do no such thing,” said Mrs. Pemberton, warmly. “I don’t pretend to know much about these matters but I have noticed that when the girls are invited to a party it is generally Edith who is left at home.” “It is not my fault, Mr. Pemberton, if she takes no pleasure in gay society.” “Are you certain she always stays at home from choice?” “I dare say she does, at least she is never controlled by me.” “But you know as well as I do, that the slightest expression of a wish is sufficient to influence her. The truth is, Edith has made herself so useful in the family that we all depend upon her for a large portion of our comforts, and are too apt to forget that she often sacrifices her own. Do you suppose that she actually preferred staying at home to nurse little Margaret, the other night, to going to Mrs. Moore’s grand ball?” “No, I can’t say she did, for she seemed rather anxious to attend that ball, and had trimmed a dress beautifully for the occasion.” “The child was certainly not so ill as to require her attendance in addition to yours, and why, therefore, was she obliged to remain?” “No, the baby was not very sick, but she cried so bitterly when she saw Edith dressed for the party, that I was afraid she would bring on a fever.” “Therefore you disappointed Edith merely to gratify the whim of a petted infant.” “I left her to do as she pleased; she immediately changed her dress, to pacify Margaret, and took her usual place by the cradle.” “Yes, you left her to do as she pleased, after she had been allowed to discover exactly what you wished she should do. This is always the way, Sarah; the incident just mentioned, is only one out of hundreds, where Edith’s kind feelings have been made to interfere with her pleasures. I have long seen in the family a disposition to take advantage of her unselfish character, and it seems to me exceedingly unjust. I do not want to part with Edith, and should give her to a husband with great reluctance, but I insist that she should have a fair chance, and not be compelled to join the single sisterhood whether she will or not. You had better let match-making alone, Sarah; leave the girls to choose for themselves; only be careful that they have the right sort of admirers, from which to select their future master.”