I must not, you say, give my advice in favour of this man!--You now
convince me, my dear, that you are nearer of kin than I thought you,
to the family that could think of so preposterous a match, or you
would never have had the least notion of my advising in his favour.

Ask for his picture. You know I have a good hand at drawing an ugly
likeness. But I'll see a little further first: for who knows what may
happen, since matters are in such a train; and since you have not the
courage to oppose so overwhelming a torrent?

You ask me to help you to a little of my spirit. Are you in earnest?
But it will not now, I doubt, do you service.--It will not sit
naturally upon you. You are your mother's girl, think what you will;
and have violent spirits to contend with. Alas! my dear, you should
have borrowed some of mine a little sooner;--that is to say, before
you had given the management of your estate into the hands of those
who think they have a prior claim to it. What though a father's!--Has
not the father two elder children?--And do they not both bear more of
his stamp and image than you do?--Pray, my dear, call me not to
account for this free question; lest your application of my meaning,
on examination, prove to be as severe as that.

Now I have launched out a little, indulge me one word more in the same
strain--I will be decent, I promise you. I think you might have know,
that Avarice and Envy are two passions that are not to be satisfied,
the one by giving, the other by the envied person's continuing to
deserve and excel.--Fuel, fuel both, all the world over, to flames
insatiate and devouring.