And the wife, with the family and house of his own, might be
forthcoming, should it ever come in his way to form an attachment with a
wealthy woman. He knew how dangerous were the charms of such a life as
this to a man growing old among the flesh-pots, without any one to depend
upon him. He had seen what becomes of the man who is always dining out at
sixty. But he might avoid that. "Doan't thou marry for munny, but goa
where munny is." And then there was that other outlook, the scene of which
was laid somewhere north of Oxford Street, and the glory of which
consisted in Lucy's smile, and Lucy's hand, and Lucy's kiss, as he
returned home weary from his work.
There are many men, and some women, who pass their lives without knowing
what it is to be or to have been in love. They not improbably marry--the
men do, at least, and make good average husbands. Their wives are useful
to them, and they learn to feel that a woman, being a wife, is entitled to
all the respect, protection, and honour which a man can give, or procure
for her. Such men, no doubt, often live honest lives, are good Christians,
and depart hence with hopes as justifiable as though they had loved as
well as Romeo.
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