--And now speak: it is to
me, my dear: speak your whole heart: let not any apprehended difficulty--
I am a woman as well as you. And prepared to indulge--
Your goodness, madam, and nothing else, interrupted I, gives me
difficulty.--My Lord D---- seems to me to be a man of merit, and not a
disagreeable man in his person and manners. What he said of Sir Charles
Grandison, and of his emulation being fired by his example, gave him
additional merit with me. He must have a good mind. I wish him
acquainted with Sir Charles, for his own sake, and for the sake of the
world, which might be benefited by his large power, so happily directed!
--But as to myself, I should forfeit the character of frankness of heart,
which your ladyship's goodness ascribes to me, if I did not declare, that
although I cannot, and, I think ought not to entertain a hope with regard
to Sir Charles Grandison, since there is a lady who deserved him by
severe sufferings before I knew him; yet is my heart so wholly attached,
that I cannot think it just to give the least encouragement to any other
proposal.
You are an excellent young woman: but, my dear, if Sir Charles Grandison
is engaged--your mind will, it must change. Few women marry their first
loves. Your heart--
O, madam! it is already a wedded heart: it is wedded to his merits; his
merits will be always the object of my esteem: I can never think of any
other, as I ought to think of the man to whom I give my hand.
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