Out For a Walk in the Victorian Age

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Even going for a walk together in the city park was an activity that had to be handled delicately. Shared laughter and soft conversations were terms for a marriage . Did he offer her his hand to help her across a puddle? Did she except the hand or merely touch his arm for support? Every gesture was examined and construed. Usually there was a chaperone and she was present to make sure nothing romantic actually happened. She followed ten paces behind pretending to examine a flower but watching their every move. If the subject matter happened to go to dreams, books or even feelings she would cough, trip or, conveniently need smelling salts. Her presence kept things respectable, and kept the inevitable engagement from happening too quickly.