On the opposite side you will find what I promised—do not forget your part.
It is so difficult to speak of oneself exactly as one means,
that I think you might mistake the
| THE AMAZING MARRIAGE | 137 |
I am never irritated except when others are so, and then I am too apt to imitate them. This makes good temper in my companions very necessary for my peace, and if I am not disturbed by others in this way I have not any disposition to disturb them. I am never sulky, but my spirits are easily depressed, particularly by seeing anybody unhappy.
What I call my Romance is this—that if I had not acquired the habit of reflecting before I act, I should sometimes have sacrificed considerations of prudence to the impulse of my feelings—but I am not conscious of ever having yielded to the temptation which assailed me. I can assure you from experience that I am very thankfully submissive to correction so tell me when I am wrong.
On the “opposite side” she wrote as follows:
“husband.
“He must have consistent principles of Duty governing strong & generous feelings, and reducing them under the command of Reason.
“Genius is not in my opinion necessary, though desirable, if united with what I have just mentioned.
“I require a freedom from suspicion, & from habitual ill-humour—also an equal tenor of affection towards me, not that violent attachment which is susceptible of sudden encrease or diminution from trifles.
| 138 | THE AMAZING MARRIAGE |
“I wish to be considered by my husband as a reasonable adviser, not as a guide on whom he could implicitly depend.
“So much for the chief requisites of mind, and for the sake of these I could overlook many imperfections in other respects. In regard to external qualifications I would have fortune enough to enable me to continue without embarrassment in the kind of society to which I have been accustomed. I have no inclination to extravagance, and should be content to practise economy for the attainment of this object.
“Rank is indifferent to me. Good connections I think an important advantage.
“I do not regard beauty, but am influenced by the manners of a gentleman, without which I scarcely think that any one could attract me.
“I would not enter into a family where there was a strong tendency to Insanity.”
