“Yes, my child—may it make you happy! that is all the enjoyment I expect from it: it shall all be yours.”
“And may I do what I please with it?—Oh, then it will indeed make me happy. I will give it all, all to Mr. Hervey. How delightful to have something to give to Mr. Hervey!”
“And had you never any thing to give to Mr. Hervey till now?”
“Never! never! he has given me every thing. Now—oh, joyful day!—I can prove to him that Virginia is not ungrateful!”
“Dear, generous girl,” said her father, wiping the tears from his eyes, “what a daughter have I found! But tell me, my child,” continued he, smiling, “do you think Mr. Hervey will be content if you give him only your fortune? Do you think that he would accept the fortune without the heart? Nay, do not turn away that dear blushing face from me; remember it is your father who speaks to you. Mr. Hervey will not take your fortune without yourself, I am afraid: what shall we do? Must I refuse him your hand?”
“Refuse him! do you think that I could refuse him any thing, who has given me every thing?—I should be a monster indeed! There is no sacrifice I would not make, no exertion of which I am not capable, for Mr. Hervey’s sake. But, my dear father,” said she, changing her tone, “he never asked for my hand till yesterday.”
But he had won your heart long ago, I see, thought her father.
“I have written an answer to his letter; will you look at it, and tell me if you approve of it?”
“I do approve of it, my darling child: I will not read it—I know what it must be: he has a right to the preference he has so nobly earned.”
“Oh, he has—he has, indeed!” cried Virginia, with an expression of strong feeling; “and now is the time to show him that I am not ungrateful.”