Do not, by your consent, let him encourage hopes which must end in disappointment." "My approbation I cannot withdraw, Ellen, for most sincerely do I esteem the young man; and there are few whom I would so gladly behold united to my family as himself.

Why do you so positively refuse to hear him?
You may not know him sufficiently now, I grant you, to love him, yet believe me, the more you know him the more will you find in him both to esteem and love." "I do not doubt it, my dear uncle.

He is one among the young men who visit here whom I most highly esteem, and I should be sorry to lose his friendship by the refusal of his hand." "But why not allow him to plead for himself?
You are not one of those romantic beings, Ellen, who often refuse an excellent offer, because they imagine they are not violently in love." "Pray do not condemn me as such, my dear uncle; indeed, it is not the case.

Mr.Lacy, the little I know of him, appears to possess every virtue calculated to make an excellent husband.

I know no fault to which I can bring forward any objection; but"-- "But what, my dear niece?
Surely, you are not afraid of speaking freely before your aunt and myself ?" "No, uncle; but I have little to say except that I have no wish to marry; that it would be more pain to leave you and my aunt than marriage could ever compensate." "Why, Nelly, do you mean to devote yourself to us all your young life, old and irritable as we shall in all probability become?
think again, my dear girl, many enjoyments, much happiness, as far as human eye can see, await the wife of Lacy.