_Mr F_ I protest, Madam, you have forced a construction that I never once so much as dreamed of. _Mrs G_ Why, Mr Faulkland (with a very brisk tone), do you fancy that by changing Mr Arnold for _you_ on any other conditions, that I am such a mighty gainer by the bargain? _Mr F_ Why really, Madam, if that _were_ to be the case, I don't think you would be a very great loser: you have got as much from poor Arnold as you could expect: I am able to do better for you; and, as I am nobody's property, it would certainly, in _that_ respect, be rather a more eligible course. _Mrs G_ Sir, you use me very ill! I did not expect such treatment. _Mr F_ How, pray Madam? Did I ever say I would marry you? _Mrs G_ No, Sir; but your behaviour has given me room to suppose that such a thing was in your thoughts. _Mr F_ Are you not then the more obliged to me for treating you with such respect as made you fancy so? _Mrs G_ Respect! respect (muttering between her teeth), Mr Faulkland! (and she stood up) there is not a man in England but yourself, after what I have declared, that would refuse making me his wife. _Mr F_ What have you declared, Mrs Gerrarde? _Mrs G_ Why, have I not ingenuously owned my failings, shewed myself sorry for them, quitted them, and made all the reparation in my power? (I was amazed to see how audaciously she had adopted as her own, the sentiments which I had suggested to her: it was so like her, that I could have laughed in her face). _Mr F_ Your behaviour, on this occasion, has really been worthy of the imitation of all your own sex, and the praise of ours: for a woman _voluntarily_ to quit an irregular life, and that too from mere motives of _conscience_--(I was stopped by a knavish sneer, which I could not subdue. She saw it, and fired immediately; but strutted about the room to cool herself: at last, for I sat very silent, looking at her, and playing with one of the glasses)-- _Mrs G_ Mr Faulkland, if you are disposed to have done trifling, and will vouchsafe me a serious answer, pray tell me, Are you absolutely determined not to marry me? _Mr F_ Absolutely. _Mrs G_ You are not serious, sure! _Mr F_ My dear creature, why sure _thou_ canst not be serious in asking me the question! _Mrs G_ Sir, I _am_ serious, and expect a serious answer. _Mr F_ Why then,--seriously, I have no more thoughts of marrying thee, than I have of marrying the first sultana in the grand seignior's seraglio. _Mrs G_ Very well, Sir; very well; I am answered; (and she walked quicker about the room than before). We were both silent. She, I suppose, expected that I should propose other terms, and a settlement; and waited, to try if I would speak. I had a mind to teaze her a little, and hummed a tune.