Anne Douglas Sedgwick

“ Will you, Giles, for I have no money?”
He saw that he must yield. Such resolution could not be opposed. And after all wasn't it best to let her go? He would have struggled against her longer had it not come to him that nothing would move further the cause he had at heart, Jerry's cause, and Alix's, than her withdrawal. Better, much better, were Lady Mary to see that Alix was removed; better for Jerry that he should find something to endure and wait for and win with difficulty. ”

“ We believe that since the heart can make such mistakes—both inside and outside of marriage—we must depend on other things as well.”
“On the suitable things, you mean,” said Giles. “But isn't it better to make mistakes for ourselves, and to abide by the consequences, than to have other people make them for us? As for suitability, in all the essentials you and Jerry are perfectly matched. It's absurd to wreck his happiness and yours because his mother finds disadvantages in your mother's position. Do look at it straight, Alix.” ”

“ Such a marriage would make his mother very unhappy. I do not believe it could make my mother happy either. We do not think of marriage, we French people, as you do. What you think wrong, we think right; convention, suitability is right for us. We are not romantic in your English way.”
“And can you really believe that your way is the right way, Alix?” Giles inquired. “Can you imagine anything more unhappy than having to spend your life with someone you don't love? ”