Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. " But, turning these jests out of service, let us talk in good earnest." As You Like It. " Come, dear Amy, I will spare your blushes, and save you the trouble of telling me why you sent for me this morning; so compose yourself, while I take off my bonnet and shawl, and then I am ready to hear the whole story. I met Edward Selmar in the hall, and he looked so provokingly happy, and had such a tell-tale face, and such a cousin-like manner towards me, that he has not left you much to tell." All this was said by Fanny Herbert to her cousin, as she entered the room in a hurried manner, and with her face all glowing with emotion. " I am too deeply happy, dear Fanny, to be discomposed," said Amy; " and I am afraid I shall not be sentimental enough even to blush to your satisfaction." " That is just like you, Amy; and I dare SKETCHES OF MARRIED LIFE. 31 say that you would behave exactly so, if you were going to be executed instead of going to be married." " I hope," replied Amy, laughing, " that you do not think it a parallel case." " Why, not exactly, in all respects; but it has many points of resemblance. When a woman promises herself away in marriage, she resigns her name, her property, her affections, her opinions, her friends, perhaps her country, her will — in short, herself, to her future lord and master." "No wonder," replied Amy, " that, with these ideas of matrimony, you expect me to be agitated; but I do not acknowledge that I have made such a surrender as this." " Let me see, Amy; out of your own mouth, I will prove that you have. You resign your name." " Yes; but a name is of no consequence." " Your property will be his as soon as you are married, unless you have it legally settled upon yourself beforehand." " You know th...