the world, and I promise you I was never more deceived in my life, if my niece be not most desperately
in love.How! in love! cries Western, in a passion; in love, without acquainting me! Ill disinherit her; Ill
turn her out of doors, stark naked, without a farthing. Is all my kindness vor ur, and vondness our come
to this, to fall in love without asking me leave?But you will not, answered Mrs. Western, turn this
daughter, whom you love better than your own soul, out of doors, before you know whether you shall
approve her choice. Suppose she should have fixed on the very person whom you yourself would wish,
I hope you would not be angry then?No, no, cries Western, that would make a difference. If she
marries the man I would ha her, she may love whom she pleases, I shant trouble my head about that.
That is spoken, answered the sister, like a sensible man; but I believe the very person she hath chosen
would be the very person you would choose for her. I will disclaim all knowledge of the world, if it is not
so; and I believe, brother, you will allow I have some.Why, lookee, sister, said Western, I do believe
you have as much, as any woman; and to be sure those are womens matters. You know I dont love
to hear you talk about politics; they belong to us, and petticoats should not meddle: but come, who is
the man?Marry! said she, you may find him out yourself if you please. You, who are so great a
politician, can be at no great loss. The judgment which can penetrate into the cabinets of princes, and
discover the secret springs which move the great state wheels in all the political machines of Europe,
must surely, with very little difficulty, find out what passes in the uninformed mind of a girl.Sister,
cries the squire, I have often warnd you not to talk the court gibberish to me. I tell you, I dont understand
the lingo: but I can read a journal, or the London Evening Post. Perhaps, indeed, there may be now
and tan a verse which I cant make much of, because half the letters are left out; yet I know very well
what is meant by that, and that our affairs dont go so well as they should do, because of bribery and
corruption.I pity your country ignorance from my heart, cries the lady.Do you? answered Western; and
I pity your town learning; I had rather be anything than a courtier, and a Presbyterian, and a Hanoverian
too, as some people, I believe, are.If you mean me, answered she, you know I am a woman, brother; and
it signifies nothing what I am. BesidesI do know you are a woman, cries the squire, and its well
for thee that art one; if hadst been a man, I promise thee I had lent thee a flick long ago.Ay, there,
said she, in that flick lies all your fancied superiority. Your bodies, and not your brains, are stronger
than ours. Believe me, it is well for you that you are able to beat us; or, such is the superiority of our
understanding, we should make all of you what the brave, and wise, and witty, and polite are already
our slaves. I am glad I know your mind, answered the squire. But well talk more of this matter
another time. At present, do tell me what man is it you mean about my daughter? Hold a moment,
said she, while I digest that sovereign contempt I have for your sex; or else I ought to be angry too with
you. ThereI have made a shift to gulp it down. And now, good politic sir, what think you of Mr. Blifil?
Did she not faint away on seeing him lie breathless on the ground? Did she not, after he was recovered,
turn pale again the moment we came up to that part of the field where he stood? And pray what else
should be the occasion of all her melancholy that night at supper, the next morning, and indeed ever
since?Fore George! cries the squire, now you mind me ont, I remember it all. It is certainly so,
and I am glad ont with all my heart. I knew Sophy was a good girl, and would not fall in love to make
me angry. I was never more rejoiced in my life; for nothing can lie so handy together as our two estates.
I had this matter in my head some time ago: for certainly the two estates are in a manner joined together
in matrimony already, and it would be a thousand pities to part them. It is true, indeed, there be larger
estates in the kingdom, but not in this county, and I had rather bate something, than marry my daughter
among strangers and foreigners. Besides, most o zuch great estates be in the hands of lords, and I
heate the very name of themmun. Well but, sister, what would you advise me to do; for I tell you women
know these matters better than we do?Oh, your humble servant, sir, answered the lady: we are
obliged to you for allowing us a capacity in anything. Since you are pleased, then, most politic sir, to
ask my advice, I think you may propose the match to Allworthy yourself. There is no indecorum in the
proposals coming from the parent of either side. King Alcinous, in Mr. Popes Odyssey, offers his daughter
to Ulysses. I need not caution so politic a person not to say that your daughter is in love; that would
indeed be against all rules.Well, said the squire, I will propose it; but I shall certainly lend un a flick,
if he should refuse me. Fear not, cries Mrs. Western; the match is too advantageous to be refused.
I dont know that, answered the squire: Allworthy is a queer bch, and money hath no effect oun.
Brother, said the lady, your politics astonish me. Are you really to be imposed on by professions? Do