Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 10
Youwillallow,thatinboth,manhastheadvantageofchoice,womanonlythepowerofrefusal;thatinboth,itisanengagementbetweenmanandwoman,formedfortheadvantageofeach;andthatwhenonceenteredinto,theybelongexclusivelytoeachothertillthemomentofitsdissolution;thatitistheirduty,eachtoendeavourtogivetheothernocauseforwishingthatheorshehadbestowedthemselveselsewhere,andtheirbestinteresttokeeptheirownimaginationsfromwanderingtowardstheperfectionsoftheirneighbours,orfancyingthattheyshouldhavebeenbetteroffwithanyoneelse.Youwillallowallthis?”
“Yes,tobesure,asyoustateit,allthissoundsverywell;butstilltheyaresoverydifferent.Icannotlookuponthematallinthesamelight,northinkthesamedutiesbelongtothem.”
“Inonerespect,therecertainlyisadifference.Inmarriage,themanissupposedtoprovideforthesupportofthewoman,thewomantomakethehomeagreeabletotheman;heistopurvey,andsheistosmile.Butindancing,theirdutiesareexactlychanged;theagreeableness,thecomplianceareexpectedfromhim,whileshefurnishesthefanandthelavenderwater.That,Isuppose,wasthedifferenceofdutieswhichstruckyou,asrenderingtheconditionsincapableofcomparison.”
“No,indeed,Ineverthoughtofthat.”
“ThenIamquiteataloss.Onething,however,Imustobserve.Thisdispositiononyoursideisratheralarming.
