“But still it would be very unpleasant to begin life with ready-made family quarrels,” replied Penelope; “though I will not be so obstinate as to say that I will make Mr Darnley’s consent an indispensable condition, if that consent is withheld from mere caprice.” “Ay, ay,” replied Mr Primrose, “you are very considerate; but I do not see why we should study the whims and humours of those who have no regard for our welfare. You shall do, however, just as you think best. For my own part I have a very good opinion of Robert Darnley, and if I had never seen him I should have thought well of him for your sake.” And upon this the desultory talk went on between the father and daughter; and though the conversation might have been, from the unanimity of the parties, agreeable to themselves, the repetition of it could not be interesting to the world, seeing that it was insipid and common-place; but still the allusion to it ought not to be withheld, inasmuch as it gives an opportunity of presenting the pleasant sight of a father and daughter in perfect harmony, discussing the question of the matrimony of the latter. But while we take occasion to remark on this harmony, we may also gratify some readers by suggesting to them the thought, that perhaps Mr Primrose was too easy and indifferent, and that he was not sufficiently anxious concerning his daughter. It is a practice with some superlatively wise fathers to annoy their children with every species of persecution for their good. These very excellent and clever parents will plunge a poor, panting, terrified baby every morning into a tub of cold water, and suffer the infant to be exposed to the chilling air, under the conceit of hardening the young one. Then, when little master is able to articulate a few words, the miserable one is brutally chained to a book, and is thumped, cuffed, kicked, snubbed and half-starved into the learning, which, at a very little later period, the poor child might have taken quietly and calmly enough. And so on, as long as the power remains the tyranny continues, and the persecuted ones are expected to bless their stars that they had been placed under such excellent management. And if by any accident the young Solomon turns out at last to be no conjuror, the wise papa is full of wonderment at the untoward event, and is surprised that his labour should have been all in vain; “For nobody,” quoth he, “could take more pains with a child than I did with mine.” In like manner and with like wisdom do these wise parents conduct themselves towards their daughters in the affair of marriage, breaking their hearts to make them happy, and keeping them single by way of establishing them well in the world.