sacrifice myself to save her life. That I am well suited to her, I am as
willing as vanity can make me to believe; but how is it to be proved
that the lady is suited to me?"

"My dear, these things do not admit of logical proof."

"Well--moral, sentimental, or any kind of proof you please."

"Have you no pity? and is not pity akin to love?"

"Akin! Oh, yes, ma'am, it is akin; but for that very reason it may not
be a friend--relations, you know, in these days, are as often enemies
as friends."

"Vile pun! far-fetched quibble!--provoking boy!--But I see you are not
in a humour to be serious, so I will take another time to talk to you of
this affair."

"Now or never, ma'am, for mercy's sake!"

"Mercy's sake! you who show none--Ah! this is the way with you men; all
this is play to you, but death to us."

"Death! dear ma'am; ladies, you know as well as I do, don't die of love
in these days--you would not make a fool of your son."

"I could not; nor could any other woman--that is clear: but amongst us,
I am afraid we have, undesignedly indeed, but irremediably, made a fool
of this poor confiding girl."