"Poor soul! I always thought she was a fool, but upon my word I pity her," said Mark. "Remember she was very young, so far away from her mother, with no real friend to warn and help her, and love is so sweet. No wonder she went." "Sylvia, how can you excuse her in that way? She should have done her duty whether she loved the old gentleman or not, and kept her troubles to herself in a proper manner. You young girls think so much of love, so little of moral obligations, decorum, and the opinions of the world, you are not fit judges of the case. Mr. Warwick agrees with me, I am sure." "Not in the least." "Do you mean to say that Helen should have left her husband?" "Certainly, if she could not love him." "Do you also mean to say that she did right to run off with that Gustave Isadore Theodule creature?" "By no means. It is worse than folly to attempt the righting of one wrong by the commission of another." "Then what in the world should she have done?" "She should have honestly decided which she loved, have frankly told the husband the mistake both had made, and demanded her liberty. If the lover was worthy, have openly married him and borne the world's censures. If not worthy, have stood alone, an honest woman in God's eyes, whatever the blind world might have thought." Prue was scandalized to the last degree, for with her marriage was more a law than a gospel; a law which ordained that a pair once yoked should abide by their bargain, be it good or ill, and preserve the proprieties in public no matter how hot a hell their home might be for them and for their children. "What a dreadful state society would be in if your ideas were adopted! People would constantly be finding out that they were mismatched, and go running about as if playing that game where every one changes places. I'd rather die at once than live to see such a state of things as that," said the worthy spinster. "So would I, and recommend prevention rather than a dangerous cure." "I really should like to hear your views, Mr. Warwick, for you quite take my breath away." Much to Sylvia's surprise Adam appeared to like the subject, and placed his views at Prue's disposal with alacrity. "I would begin at the beginning, and teach young people that marriage is not the only aim and end of life, yet would fit them for it, as for a sacrament too high and holy to be profaned by a light word or thought. Show them how to be worthy of it and how to wait for it. Give them a law of life both cheerful and sustaining; a law that shall keep them hopeful if single, sure that here or hereafter they will find that other self and be accepted by it; happy if wedded, for their own integrity of heart will teach them to know the true god when he comes, and keep them loyal to the last." "That is all very excellent and charming, but what are the poor souls to do who haven't been educated in this fine way?" asked Prue.