Acontractofthiskind，directlyopposedtothelegalcontract，andeventothesacramentitself，couldbeconcludedonlybetweenLouisandme。Thisdifficulty，thefirstwhichhasarisen，istheonlyonewhichhasdelayedthecompletionofourmarriage。Although，atfirst，Imayhavemadeupmymindtoacceptanythingratherthanreturntotheconvent，itisonlyinhumannature，havinggotaninch，toaskforanell，andyouandI，sweetlove，areofthosewhowouldhaveitall。
IwatchedLouisoutofthecornerofmyeye，andputittomyself，“Hassufferinghadasofteningorahardeningeffectonhim？“Bydintofclosestudy，Iarrivedattheconclusionthathisloveamountedtoapassion。Oncetransformedintoanidol，whoseslightestfrownwouldturnhimwhiteandtrembling，IrealizedthatImightventureanything。Idrewhimasideinthemostnaturalmanneronsolitarywalks，duringwhichIdiscreetlysoundedhisfeelings。Imadehimtalk，andgothimtoexpoundtomehisideasandplansforourfuture。
Myquestionsbetrayedsomanypreconceivednotions，andwentsostraightfortheweakpointsinthisterribledualexistence，thatLouishassinceconfessedtomethealarmitcausedhimtofindinmesolittleoftheignorantmaiden。
ThenIlistenedtowhathehadtosayinreply。Hegotmixedupinhisarguments，aspeopledowhenhandicappedbyfear；andbeforelongitbecameclearthatchancehadgivenmeforadversaryonewhowasthelessfittedforthecontestbecausehewasconsciousofwhatyoumagniloquentlycallmy“greatnessofsoul。“Brokenbysufferingsandmisfortune，helookedonhimselfasasortofwreck，andthreefearsinespecialhauntedhim。
First，weareagedrespectivelythirty-sevenandseventeen；andhecouldnotcontemplatewithoutquakingthetwentyyearsthatdivideus。