“Say one word, Mary, and I will do anything. Say you will not think the worst of me⁠—will not give me up altogether.”

“As if it were any pleasure to me to think ill of you,” said Mary, in a mournful tone. “As if it were not very painful to me to see you an idle frivolous creature. How can you bear to be so contemptible, when others are working and striving, and there are so many things to be done⁠—how can you bear to be fit for nothing in the world that is useful? And with so much good in your disposition, Fred⁠—you might be worth a great deal.”

“I will try to be anything you like, Mary, if you will say that you love me.”