EMILIA.
Lady Jane L—— was of a different opinion; she said, she should certainly have staid at home, had she guessed that Owen would have been there, for she could not bear to sit in company with a youth whose grandfather was a mean mechanic.
CHARLES.
Many persons of quality are of the same opinion, but I have been told that we ought always to prefer merit to birth and riches; the former is the fruit of our own labour, but the latter is merely accidental.
EDWARD.
But it seems a rule in life to seek rather the company of superiors than inferiors.
CHARLES.
To seek either to associate with superiors or inferiors constantly, would, in my opinion, be equally mean, equally tend to debase the soul; friendship requires equality.
WILLIAM.
Lady Jane, whom Emilia was speaking of, appears to me very ill-natured. Did you not observe how she ridiculed that modest young gentleman who was a little deformed?