Helen. Certainly!—only, as mine is the biggest, perhaps yours would be the greatest gainer by the bargain.
Lord A. My dear madam, a title and the advantages of elevation in rank amply compensate the sacrifice on your part.
Helen. Why, as to a title, my lord (as Mr. O’Dedimus, your attorney, observes) there’s no title in my mind better than a good title to a fine estate—and I see plainly, that although your lordship is a peer of the realm—you think this title of mine no mean companion for your own.
Lord A. Nay, madam—believe me—I protest—I assure you—solemnly, that those considerations have very little—indeed no influence at all with me.
Helen. Oh, no!—only it is natural that you should feel (as papa again observes) that the contiguity of these estates seem to invite a union by a marriage between us.
Lord A. And if you admit that fact, why do you decline the invitation?
Helen. Why, one doesn’t accept every invitation that’s offered, you know—one sometimes has very disagreeable ones; and then one presents compliments, and is extremely sorry that a prior engagement obliges us to decline the honour.
Lord A. (aside) Confound the satirical huzzy—But should not the wishes of your parents have some weight in the scale?
Helen. Why, so they have; their wishes are in one scale, and mine are in the other; do all I can, I can’t make mine weigh most, and so the beam remains balanced.
Lord A. I should be sorry to make theirs preponderate, by calling in their authority as auxiliaries to their wishes.