I have already given my opinion on the subject, and think Signor Montoni right in enforcing, by any means, your consent.

If young persons will be blind to their interest, and obstinately oppose it, why, the greatest blessings they can have are friends, who will oppose their folly.

Pray what pretensions of any kind do you think you have to such a match as is now offered you ?' 'Not any whatever, Madam,' replied Emily, 'and, therefore, at least, suffer me to be happy in my humility.' 'Nay, niece, it cannot be denied, that you have pride enough; my poor brother, your father, had his share of pride too; though, let me add, his fortune did not justify it.' Emily, somewhat embarrassed by the indignation, which this malevolent allusion to her father excited, and by the difficulty of rendering her answer as temperate as it should be reprehensive, hesitated for some moments, in a confusion, which highly gratified her aunt.

At length she said, 'My father's pride, Madam, had a noble object--the happiness which he knew could be derived only from goodness, knowledge and charity.
As it never consisted in his superiority, in point of fortune, to some persons, it was not humbled by his inferiority, in that respect, to others.

He never disdained those, who were wretched by poverty and misfortune; he did sometimes despise persons, who, with many opportunities of happiness, rendered themselves miserable by vanity, ignorance and cruelty.