Page 236 - agnes-grey

may die—which is not at all improbable.’
‘But, with care, many a delicate infant has become a
strong man or woman.’
‘But it may grow so intolerably like its father that I shall
hate it.’
‘That is not likely; it is a little girl, and strongly resembles
its mother.’
‘No matter; I should like it better if it were a boy—only
that its father will leave it no inheritance that he can possi-
bly squander away. What pleasure can I have in seeing a girl
grow up to eclipse me, and enjoy those pleasures that I am
for ever debarred from? But supposing I could be so gener-
ous as to take delight in this, still it is ONLY a child; and
I can’t centre all my hopes in a child: that is only one de-
gree better than devoting oneself to a dog. And as for all the
wisdom and goodness you have been trying to instil into
me—that is all very right and proper, I daresay, and if I were
some twenty years older, I might fructify by it: but people
must enjoy themselves when they are young; and if others
won’t let them—why, they must hate them for it!’
‘The best way to enjoy yourself is to do what is right and
hate nobody. The end of Religion is not to teach us how to
die, but how to live; and the earlier you become wise and
good, the more of happiness you secure. And now, Lady
Ashby, I have one more piece of advice to offer you, which
is, that you will not make an enemy of your mother-in-law.
Don’t get into the way of holding her at arms’ length, and
regarding her with jealous distrust. I never saw her, but I
have heard good as well as evil respecting her; and I imagine

236 Agnes Grey