Not so, neither, Madam: for I know Miss Clarissa Harlowe would prefer Mr. Lovelace to all men, if morals—
IF, Nancy!—That if is every thing.—Do you really think she loves Mr. Lovelace?
What would you have had me say, my dear?—I won't tell you what I did say: But had I not said what I did, who would have believed me?
Besides, I know you love him!—Excuse me, my dear: Yet, if you deny it, what do you but reflect upon yourself, as if you thought you ought not to allow yourself in what you cannot help doing?
Indeed, Madam, said I, the man is worthy of any woman's love [if, again, I could say]—But her parents—
Her parents, Nancy—[You know, my dear, how my mother, who accuses her daughter of quickness, is evermore interrupting one!]
May take wrong measures, said I—
Cannot do wrong—they have reason, I'll warrant, said she—
By which they may provoke a young woman, said I, to do rash things, which otherwise she would not do.
But, if it be a rash thing, [returned she,] should she do it? A prudent daughter will not wilfully err, because her parents err, if they were to err: if she do, the world which blames the parents, will not acquit the child. All that can be said, in extenuation of a daughter's error in this case, arises from a kind consideration, which Miss Clary's letter to Lady Drayton pleads for, to be paid to her daughter's youth and inexperience. And will such an admirable young person as Miss Clarissa Harlowe, whose prudence, as we see, qualifies her to be an advisor of persons much older than herself, take shelter under so poor a covert?