That's what I
should say if I wanted to oppose you."
"I never came across a man willing to speak the truth who did not admit
that, in the long run, married men are the happier. As regards women,
there isn't even ground for an argument. And yet men don't marry."
"They can't."
"You mean there isn't food enough in the world."
"The man fears that he won't get enough of what there is. for his wife and
family."
"The labourer with twelve shillings a week has no such fear. And if he did
marry, the food would come. It isn't that. The man is unconscientious and
ignorant as to the sources of true happiness, and won't submit himself to
cold mutton and three clean shirts a week--not because he dislikes mutton
and dirty linen himself, but because the world says they are vulgar.
That's the feeling that keeps you from marrying, Herriot."
"As for me," said Herriot, "I regard myself as so placed that I do not
dare to think of a young woman of my own rank except as a creature that
must be foreign to me. I cannot make such a one my friend as I would a
man, because I should be in love with her at once. And I do not dare to be
in love because I would not see a wife and children starve.
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