He courts them, and is more and more a favourite. Such terms, such
settlements! That's the cry.

O my dear, that I had not reason to deplore the family fault,
immensely rich as they all are! But this I may the more unreservedly
say to you, as we have often joined in the same concern: I, for a
father and uncles; you, for a mother; in every other respect,
faultless.

Hitherto, I seem to be delivered over to my brother, who pretends as
great a love to me as ever.

You may believe I have been very sincere with him. But he affects to
rally me, and not to believe it possible, that one so dutiful and
discreet as his sister Clary can resolve to disoblige all her friends.

Indeed, I tremble at the prospect before me; for it is evident that
they are strangely determined.

My father and mother industriously avoid giving me opportunity of
speaking to them alone. They ask not for my approbation, intended, as
it should seem, to suppose me into their will. And with them I shall
hope to prevail, or with nobody. They have not the interest in
compelling me, as my brother and sister have: I say less therefore to
them, reserving my whole force for an audience of my father, if he
will permit me a patient ear. How difficult is it, my dear, to give a
negative where both duty and inclination join to make one wish to
oblige!

I have already stood the shock of three of this man's particular