And are these, petulant Harriet, (methinks, Lucy, you demand,) all the
benefits that you will suppose Sir Charles Grandison has reaped from his
travelling?
Why, no. But then, in turn, I ask, Is every traveller a Sir Charles
Grandison?--And does not even he confess to Dr. Bartlett, that he wished
he had never seen Italy? And may not the poor Clementina, and all her
family, for her sake, wish he never had?
If an opportunity offers, I don't know, but I may ask Sir Charles,
whether, in his conscience, he thinks, that, taking in every
consideration, relating to time, expense, risques of life, health,
morals, this part of the fashionable education of youth of condition is
such an indispensable one, as some seem to suppose it? If Sir Charles
Grandison give it not in favour of travelling, I believe it will be
concluded, that six parts out of eight of the little masters who are sent
abroad for improvement, might as well be kept at home; if, especially,
they would be orderly, and let their fathers and mothers know what to do
with them.
O, my uncle! I am afraid of you: but spare the poor girl: she
acknowledges her petulance, her presumption. The occasion you know, and
will pity her for it! However, neither petulance nor presumption shall
make her declare as her sentiments what really are not so, in her
unprejudiced hours; and she hopes to have her heart always open to
conviction.
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