And then, next, after we have, perhaps, half broken their hearts, a wife
is looked out for: convenience, or birth, or fortune, are the first
motives, affection the last (if it is at all consulted): and two people
thus educated, thus trained up, in a course of unnatural ingratitude, and
who have been headstrong torments to every one who has had a share in
their education, as well as to those to whom they owe their being, are
brought together; and what can be expected, but that they should pursue,
and carry on, the same comfortable conduct in matrimony, and join most
heartily to plague one another? And, in some measure, indeed, this is
right; because hereby they revenge the cause of all those who have been
aggrieved and insulted by them, upon one another.
The gentleman has never been controlled: the lady has never been
contradicted.
He cannot bear it from one whose new relation, he thinks, should oblige
her to shew a quite contrary conduct.
She thinks it very barbarous, now, for the first time, to be opposed in
her will, and that by a man from whom she expected nothing but
tenderness.
So great is the difference between what they both expect from one
another, and what they both find in each other, that no wonder
misunderstandings happen; that these ripen to quarrels; that acts of
unkindness pass, which, even had the first motive to their union been
affection, as usually it is not, would have effaced all manner of tender
impressions on both sides.
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