I am ashamed
of myself!
If I am unpolite, madam, my sincerity will be my excuse; at least to my
own heart.
O, that inflexible heart! But, ladies, if the inhospitable Englishman
refuse his protection in his own country, to a foreign woman, of no mean
quality; do not you, his sisters, despise her.
They, madam, and their lords, will render you every cheerful service.
Let me request you, my sisters, to make England as agreeable as possible
to this lady. She is of the first consideration in her own country: she
will be of such wherever she goes. My Lady Maffei deserves likewise your
utmost respect. Then addressing himself to them; Ladies, said he,
encourage my sisters: they will think themselves honoured by your
commands.
The two sisters confirmed, in an obliging manner, what their brother had
said; and both ladies acknowledged themselves indebted to them for their
offered friendship: but Lady Olivia seemed not at all satisfied with
their brother: and it was with some difficulty he prevailed on her to
return to the company, and drink coffee.
I could not help reflecting, on occasion of this lady's conduct, that
fathers and mothers are great blessings, to daughters, in particular,
even when women grown. It is not every woman that will shine in a state
of independency. Great fortunes are snares. If independent women escape
the machinations of men, which they have often a difficulty to do, they
will frequently be hurried by their own imaginations, which are said to
be livelier than those of men, though their judgments are supposed less,
into inconveniencies.
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