XII
關燈
小
中
大
myownwillmakemeindifferent,butherfamilyandcharactermustbeequallyunexceptionable.Whenyourchoiceisfixedsothatnoobjectioncanbemadetoit,thenIcanpromiseyouareadyandcheerfulconsentbutitismydutytoopposeamatchwhichdeepartonlycouldrenderpossible,andmustintheendmakewretched.Itispossibleherbehaviourmayariseonlyfromvanity,orthewishofgainingtheadmirationofamanwhomshemustimaginetobeparticularlyprejudicedagainstherbutitismorelikelythatsheshouldaimatsomethingfurther.Sheispoor,andmaynaturallyseekanalliancewhichmustbeadvantageoustoherselfyouknowyourownrights,andthatitisoutofmypowertopreventyourinheritingthefamilyestate.MyabilityofdistressingyouduringmylifewouldbeaspeciesofrevengetowhichIcouldhardlystoopunderanycircumstances.
Ihonestlytellyoumysentimentsandintentions:Idonotwishtoworkonyourfears,butonyoursenseandaffection.Itwoulddestroyeverycomfor