Felicia Skene

“ One measure only must be taken with regard to Mr. Clayton,--the marriage must be carefully concealed from him until it was too late to prohibit it. From Agnes herself Richard expected no opposition; the idea would be startling to her at first, for he felt certain she bad never entertained a thought as to the possibility of such an arrangement; but he knew that he possessed great influence over her--the influence which a man of strong will must at all times possess over a weak and timid woman, unless there be in her that strength which is best shown forth in weakness. ”

“ Their connexion was but in name. Would she, for the sake of a name--a shadow, sacrifice his happiness and her own--the life of those dear children? He took the little hands of his innocent Mary and folded them in his own that she might plead for him, and Agnes yielded. Richard Clayton effected his purpose--his sister-in-law agreed to become his wife. ”

“ Mary, who seemed to have no power to live, save in an atmosphere of love; and the fragile infant, his son, the pride of his heart, on whom so many hopes were built, only now beginning to exhibit symptoms of increasing strength and health, which all would vanish, as he knew full well, if a cold heart and careless hand alone were to be concerned in his welfare. ”

“ Moreover Richard Clayton, although of a generous temper, was essentially selfish--peculiarities of disposition which are by no means incompatible. He could not bear to think of his house in disorder, cheerless, and lonely, with all the petty cares of the "menage," which are so essentially a woman's province, devolving on himself. No; Agnes must remain with him ”

“ This, however, is not the case,--to the destruction of much domestic happiness, and of many of the holiest and best feelings of our nature. It is certain that the unjustifiable license which has been given to these marriages by the diversity of opinion on this point (so long decided by primitive and holy authority) , has driven many to form the connexion from which their better feelings would otherwise have revolted.
Richard Clayton was determined to retain the society of his sister-in-law, and by this arrangement alone could he do so. ”