Five years too long

(1980 Memoirs )
Imagine if you can the tears and parting, the letters back and forth, the presents, the few visits, the planning, the heart breaking misunderstandings --  five years is too long.  But you see, at that time [late 1920s] a man didn't marry unless he could support his wife and maintain a home and provide for his children.  And it takes a long spell for a lawyer to go thru school and be good enough to hang out his shingle.