There was nothing very formidable in Lucretia's manner.
"'Fore Gad!" thought he, "I suppose I must take the heiress after all; the sooner 't is over, the sooner I can get back to Brook Street." "It is premature, my fair cousin," said he, aloud,--"premature, after less than a week's visit, and only some fourteen or fifteen hours' permitted friendship and intimacy, to say what is uppermost in my thoughts; but we spendthrifts are provokingly handsome! Sir Miles, your good uncle, is pleased to forgive all my follies and faults upon one condition,--that you will take on yourself the task to reform me.

Will you, my fair cousin?
Such as I am, you behold me.

I am no sinner in the disguise of a saint.

My fortune is spent, my health is not strong; but a young widow's is no mournful position.

I am gay when I am well, good-tempered when ailing.