unaccountably hurried by his impatience, I doubted not to convince him,
that both he and I had looked upon next Wednesday with greater
apprehension than was necessary. I was proceeding to give him my
reasons; but he broke in upon me--

Had I, Madam, but the shadow of a probability to hope what you hope, I
would be all obedience and resignation. But the license is actually got:
the parson is provided: the pedant Brand is the man. O my dearest
creature, do these preparations mean only a trial?

You know not, Sir, were the worst to be intended, and weak as you think
me, what a spirit I have: you know not what I can do, and how I can
resist when I think myself meanly or unreasonably dealt with: nor do you
know what I have already suffered, what I have already borne, knowing to
whose unbrotherly instigations all is to be ascribed--

I may expect all things, Madam, interrupted he, from the nobleness of
your mind. But your spirits may fail you. What may not be apprehended
from the invincible temper of a father so positive, to a daughter so
dutiful?--Fainting will not save you: they will not, perhaps, be sorry
for such an effect of their barbarity. What will signify expostulations
against a ceremony performed? Must not all, the dreadful all follow,
that is torture to my heart but to think of? Nobody to appeal to, of
what avail will your resistance be against the consequences of a rite
witnessed to by the imposers of it, and those your nearest relations?

I was sure, I said, of procuring a delay at least. Many ways I had to
procure a delay. Nothing could be so fatal to us both, as for me now to
be found with him. My apprehensions on this score, I told him, grew too
strong for my heart. I should think very hardly of him, if he sought to