As soon as the old man had gone several voices were raised.
“A daddy of the old style!” remarked the clerk.
“A living Domostróy !” 275 said the lady. “What barbarous views of women and marriage!”
“Yes, we are far from the European understanding of marriage,” said the lawyer. 276
“The chief thing such people do not understand,” continued the lady, “is that marriage without love is not marriage; that love sanctifies marriage, and that real marriage is only such as is sanctified by love.”
The clerk listened smilingly, trying to store up for future use all he could of the clever conversation.