\"Forthesereasons，mybestneighbour，asIseetheinclinationsofthisyoungladyaremostunhappilyaversetomynephew，Imustdeclineanyfurtherthoughtsofthehonouryouintendedhim，thoughIassureyouIshallalwaysretainthemostgratefulsenseofit。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidWesternthefrothburstingforthfromhislipsthemomenttheywereuncorked，\"youcannotsaybutIhaveheardyouout，andnowIexpectyou’llhearme；andifIdon’tanswereverywordon’t，whythenI’llconsenttogeethematterup。Firstthen，Idesireyoutoanswermeonequestion-DidnotIbegether？didnotIbegether？answermethat。Theysay，indeed，itisawisefatherthatknowshisownchild；butIamsureIhavethebesttitletoher，forI
bredherup。ButIbelieveyouwillallowmetobeherfather，andifIbe，amInottogovernmyownchild？Iaskyouthat，amInottogovernmyownchild？andifIamtogovernherinothermatters，surelyIamtogovernherinthis，whichconcernshermost。AndwhatamIdesiringallthiswhile？AmIdesiringhertodoanythingforme:
togivemeanything？-Zumuchont’otherside，thatIamonlydesiringhertotakeawayhalfmyestatenow，andt’otherhalfwhenIdie。Well，andwhatisitallvor？Why，isuntittomakeherhappy？
It’senoughtomakeonemadtohearvolkstalk；ifIwasgoingtomarrymyself，thenshewouldhareasontocryandtoblubber；but，onthecontrary，han’tIofferedtobinddownmylandinsuchamanner，thatIcouldnotmarryifIwould，seeingasnarro’womanuponearthwouldhame。WhatthedevilinhellcanIdomore？I