Lucy: Very innocently. She drinks, eats, sings, laughs, gambles, walks to take the air—and wealth comes to us while we sleep, I assure you.
Mrs. Prim: And meanwhile her reputation evaporates. She'll learn. She won't have a penny of mine. My brother, who wanted her to be a nun will disinherit her. Patience, patience, she won't always be young.
Lucy:
Very true, that's why we must put our time to good use.
Mrs. Prim: Oh, very well—and all the profit you will get from that will be to die in a charity ward: both dishonored.
Lucy: Oh, for that, no Madam. A successful marriage will prevent that prophecy from being fulfilled.
Mrs. Prim:
A successful marriage. She's going to get married?
Lucy:
Yes indeed.
Mrs. Prim: Just in time! But I won't be a party to it. I won't help her make anyone think she's either respectable or rich. I renounce her as my niece, and I will not aid her to deceive anyone; goodbye.
Lucy:
Don't trouble yourself—we know our business better than you.
Mrs. Prim:
I believe this will be some grand alliance!