How we cite our quotes: Volume.Part.Chapter.Paragraph
Quote #1
"It is an engagement of honour, not of love—her father sanctioned it on his death-bed, two years since—he herself neither welcomed it, nor shrank from it—she was content to make it." (1.1.10.46)
Marian's description of Laura's engagement makes it sound practically medieval. Laura's stubborn decision to cling to that engagement was out of step with the times even in the 19th century… especially given the fact that she didn't have anyone pressuring her to follow through with it.
Quote #2
Forty-five; and she not even twenty-one! Men of his age married wives of her age every day; and experience had shown those marriages to be often the happiest ones. I knew that—and yet even the mention of his age [...] added to my blind hatred and distrust of him. (1.1.11.36)
Ditto, Walter. Knowing Sir Percival is that much older than Laura makes the entire situation even more creepy-sauce.
Quote #3
"If you are married," I added, helping her out. "Don't let him part me from Marian," she cried, with a sudden outbreak of energy. "Oh, Mr. Gilmore, pray make it law that Marian is to live with me!" (1.2.2.45-6)
Laura's naiveté and childlike nature are really apparent here when she begs Mr. Gilmore to make it a "law" for Marian to live with her. But Laura's fear gives us some insight into just how helpless women were as wives in this era. They were pretty much subject to all their husband's whims.