Gilbert Keith Chesterton

“ A lady with so clever a face could not but laugh faintly; but she continued on a determined theme, "The Prophet said, you know, that all real love had in it an element of fate. And I am sure that is his view, too. People cluster round a centre as little stars do round a star; because a star is a magnet. You are never wrong when destiny blows behind you like a great big wind; and I think many things have been judged unfairly that way. It's all very well to talk about the infant marriages in India."
"Miss Browning," said Joan, "are you interested in the infant marriages in India?" ”

“ Lady, the stars are falling pale and small, Lady, we will not live if life be all Forgetting those good stars in heaven hung When all the world was young, For more than gold was in a ring, and love was not a little thing Between the trees in Ivywood when all the world was young. ”

“ Lady Enid Wimpole played a preliminary bar or two on the piano. Then she said,
"Nor do I, Joan. I don't indeed. I know exactly what you mean. But it's just because there is a purpose that I have faith in him and trust him." She began softly to play a ballad tune of the Rhineland; and perhaps the music suggested her next remark. "Suppose you were looking at some of the last reaches of the Rhine, where it flows--"
"Enid!" cried Joan, "if you say 'into the North Sea,' I shall scream. Scream, do you hear, louder than all the peacocks together." ”

“ Mackintosh was sitting at a table scribbling secretarial notes.
"Well," said Mrs. Mackintosh, turning up a rich-haired, resolute head, more handsome than her sister's, "I believe the Indian way is the best. When people are left to themselves in early youth, any of them might marry anything. We might have married a nigger or a fish-wife or--a criminal."
"Now, Mrs. Mackintosh," said Joan, with black-browed severity, "you well know you would never have married a fish-wife. Where is Enid?" she ended suddenly.
"Lady Enid," said Miss Browning, "is looking out music in the music room, I think." ”

“ Again, Joan could not speak; and again it was Philip who went on.
"Here is yet another thing that could not be said, till the hand of the prince had been offered to the princess. It may be that in the East they carry too far this matter of infant marriages. But look round on the mad young marriages that go to pieces everywhere! And ask yourself whether you don't wish they had been infant marriages! People talk in the newspapers of the heartlessness of royal marriages. But you and I do not believe the newspapers, I suppose. We know there is no King in England ”

“ That which is fitting--that is what they really mean. In the Arabian tales, the most perfect prince is wedded to the most perfect princess--because it is fitting. The spiritual giants, the Genii, achieve it--that is, the purposes of Nature. ”