You will be rather
surprised, perhaps, at my having selected her as the partner of a
life-time; but we manage these matters according to our lights. I am
very much in love with her, and I hold that an excellent reason. I have
been ready any time this year or two to fall in love with some simple,
trusting, child-like nature. I find this in perfection in this charming
young girl. I find her so natural and fresh. I remember telling you
once that I did n't wish to be fascinated--that I wanted to estimate
scientifically the woman I should marry. I have altogether got over
that, and I don't know how I ever came to talk such nonsense. I am
fascinated now, and I assure you I like it! The best of it is that I
find it does n't in the least prevent my estimating Blanche. I judge her
very fairly--I see just what she is. She 's simple--that 's what I want;
she 's tender--that 's what I long for. You will remember how pretty she
is; I need n't remind you of that. She was much younger then, and she
has greatly developed and improved in these two or three years. But she
will always be young and innocent--I don't want her to improve too much.
She came back to America with her mother the winter after we met her at
Baden, but I never saw her again till three months ago.
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