(To Edward) Here you are awash in pleasure—you swim in delights. You know the interest that I take in all that concerns you. What happiness when two well tested hearts approach the long awaited moment—there one sees the ending of—a novel. This is a great day for you.
Edward:
I feel my happiness in all this talk.
(To Squire) But tell me, I beg you, have you been, as you promised, to the jeweler for the diamonds?
Squire: (to Clarissa) And you pretty cousin, what is it? Your heart says nothing to you? The example should encourage you—don't you wish, in marrying, to pay your debts to love and nature? It is terrible to be useless in this world.
Clarissa:
I am not bored yet with my virginity.
Squire: Whenever you please we will take the same momentous step—hearts united. I am made for the ladies, and, in all modesty, the ladies are made for me. May I be damned if you are not to my taste. I am ready to love you one day to the point of adoration—to the point of madness! But not to the point of marriage. I like amours without consequences— you understand me, I'm sure?
Lucy:
Truly, this speech is so plain it needs no commentary. What! Squire!
For shame!
Squire: You can't know how much this little fellow shames me. It is true this little bourgeois hasn't an equal, and that I treat him like family, introduce him into society, teach him to gamble, educate his taste in manners, furniture, and horses. I lead him a little astray—but these little gentlemen are not very happy unless one inspires them with the manners of the court and they learn to ruin themselves in two or three years.
Lucy:
Have you many scholars?
Squire: Where is Roger? I don't see him here. He's a pretty fellow. I love him. I find him admirable as a trickster, to keep off creditors, to calm usurers, to persuade and pacify merchants. To sell all the furniture in a house quietly and quickly. How fashionable, how witty of your father, how prudent, to leave you a governor so wise, an economist so knowing. This rogue values twenty thousand pounds rent, the same way a baby does a half penny.