An unmarried woman—a girl of your age—isn’t independent.
 Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881). copy citation

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Author Henry James
Source The Portrait of a Lady
Topic age women
Date 1881
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2833/2833-h/2833-h.htm

Context

“What can give me greater pleasure than to see you perfectly independent—doing whatever you like? It’s to make you independent that I want to marry you.” “That’s a beautiful sophism,” said the girl with a smile more beautiful still. “An unmarried woman—a girl of your age—isn’t independent. There are all sorts of things she can’t do. She’s hampered at every step.” “That’s as she looks at the question,” Isabel answered with much spirit. “I’m not in my first youth—I can do what I choose—I belong quite to the independent class.” source