Bless me, madam! said Miss Glanville, what reason have you to defend the character of this princess so much? She will hardly thank you for your pains, I fancy.
Were you acquainted with the character of that most generous princess, said Arabella, you would be convinced that she was sensible of the smallest benefits; but it is not with a view of acquiring her favour, that I defend her against your inhuman aspersions, since it is more than two thousand years since she died; yet common justice obliges me to vindicate a person so illustrious for her birth and virtue; and were you not my cousin, I should express my resentment in another manner, for the injury you do her.
Truly, said Miss Glanville, I am not much obliged to you, madam, for not downright quarrelling with me for one that has been in her grave two thousand years. However, nothing shall make me change my opinion, and I am sure most people will be of my side of the argument.
That moment Mr. Glanville sending for permission to wait upon Arabella, she ordered him to be admitted, telling Miss Glanville, she would acquaint her brother with the dispute: to which she consented.
[Chapter II.]
Which inculcates, by a very good example, that a person ought not to be too hasty in deciding a question he does not perfectly understand.
You are come very opportunely, sir, said Arabella, when he entered the room, to be judge of a great controversy between Miss Glanville and myself. I beseech you therefore, let us have your opinion upon the matter.
Miss Glanville maintains, that it is less criminal in a lady to hear persons talk to her of love, allow them to kiss her hand, and permit them to write to her, than to make a charitable visit to a man who is confined to his bed through the violence of his passion and despair; the intent of this visit being only to prevent the death of an unfortunate lover, and, if necessary, to lay her commands upon him to live.