Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/184

182 more experience—I think you are confounding vanity and love." Mr. Trevyllian.—"I own I see little difference between them." Lady Mandeville.—"On the contrary, I hold that vanity is to love what opium is to the constitution,—exciting, but destroying." Edward Lorraine.—"I must own I allow to this 'religion of the heart' a more exalted creed than you seem inclined to do. Love is of all others the principle in our nature which calls forth 'its higher and its better part.' Look at the disinterestedness of love, the sacrifices it even delights in making! Think how lightly are all worldly advantages held when thrown into the balance with affection." Lady Mandeville.—

Mr. Trevyllian.—"Pardon: Mr. Lorraine is under the influence of hope, not memory: he paints the passion he expects to inspire." Mr. Morland.—"What an interesting subject for conversation are these varieties of la belle passion! Sentiment meets with a deal of sympathy." Lady Mandeville. "As far as words go."