"I cannot but take that tone for a purpose which, I conceive, is the kindest which, under the circumstances, can be entertained towards you, sister. I do it in the hope that, before it is too late, you will yourself do the justice which I vow shall be done. I give you peremptory warning, leaving you opportunity to retrieve yourself, to repair the mischief you have done, and to alleviate the misery which I see is coming upon you." "You are very good: but I know what I am about, and I shall proceed in my own way. I mean to get rid of these Hopes; and, perhaps, you may be surprised to see how soon I succeed." "The Hopes shall remain as long as they wish to stay, if truth can prevail against falsehood. I am sorry for you, if you cannot endure the presence of neighbours whose whole minds and conduct are noble and humane, and known by you to be so. This desire to get rid of them is a bad symptom, Priscilla--a symptom of a malady which neither Hope nor Mr Walcot, nor any one but yourself, can cure. I would have you look to it." "Is your sermon ended? It is time I was getting ready to hear Dr Levitt's." "What I have to say is not finished. I desire to know what you mean by telling everybody that I am engaged to Miss Mary Bruce." "I said so, because it is true." The cool assurance with which she said this was too much for Enderby's gravity. He burst out a-laughing. "If not precisely true when I said it, it was sure to be so soon; which is just the same thing. I mean that it shall be true. I have set my heart upon your marrying, and upon your marrying Mary Bruce. I know she would like it, and--" "Stop there! Not another word about Miss Bruce! I will not have you take liberties with her name to me; and this is not the first time I have told you so. It is not true that she would like it--no more true than many other things that you have said: and if you were to repeat it till night, it would make no sort of impression upon me. Miss Bruce knows little, and cares less, about me; and beware how you say to the contrary!--And now for the plain fact. I am engaged elsewhere." "No; you are not." "Yes; I am." "You will marry no one but Mary Bruce at last, you will see, whatever you may think now." "For Heaven's sake, Priscilla, if you have any of the regard you profess to have for Miss Bruce, treat her name with some respect!--I am accepted by Margaret Ibbotson!" "I dare say you are? Margaret Ibbotson! So this is at the bottom of all your energy about the Hopes!" "I admired Hope before I ever saw Margaret, with sufficient energy to prompt me to anything I mean to do in his support. But Margaret has certainly exalted my feelings towards him, as she has towards everything morally great and beautiful." "I hope you will all make yourselves happy with your greatness and your beauty: for these friends of yours seem likely to have little else left to comfort themselves with."