"Do you know, child, that to marry this mortal, you must take his religion?"
"And is not that better than ours, your Mightiness?"
"And gain his. Ours must cease with this world; his can never end."
"Not unless we deserve it, and we will not. I learned much, your Mightiness, while washing the walls of a little chapel, by whose side I flow."
"You must relinquish your high privileges."
"Aquarella, you are mad! Do you know what the life of a mortal woman is?"
"Oh, yes. Have I not watched Albert's mother? I know how she spends her days; in providing comforts for son and husband, in instructing the ignorant, in relieving the poor, in doing good to all. Hers is indeed a happy and useful life."
"And suppose Albert should not love you?"
"Suppose he should become poor--should fall from his high estate?"
"If he live, he will lose his youthful beauty."
"She has an answer for every thing; there must be a woman's soul in her. After all--listen to me seriously, daughter--you may indeed do all you say, and become the blessing of Albert's life; but to do this, you must leave your parents, your sisters--leave them, and forever."
"You must. Albert is of another class; he may be as good as you, still he is not your equal, nor can you enjoy his love and that of your family. Now choose between them."
"Choose--weigh them well in the balance; or one, or the other--both you can not have."
"You can not expect he wishes you to leave him for one of another sort. Your separation must be eternal."
"Why not? Even if he knew you, he could not think much of a wife who could sever herself from her earliest ties."
"My mother, too! No, no, you are right; I should never be happy. What! To feel I had offended those who have the best claim to my love and affection! I must not think of it. Still, are they not a little prejudiced?"
"Perhaps they are; but if you do your duty, their prejudices may eventually give way."
"I am afraid all you say is true; I can not leave them. Oh! I am very miserable. What shall I do?"
"Do good to every one, make yourself useful--that is the only cure for a broken heart."
"To be sure you can. And now you have shown yourself to be a dutiful daughter, and a fairy of proper sense, I will teach you how to assist him, and all his fellow-men."
