Man, indeed, may hope for an empire.

It is something to be a Pitt, or even a Warren Hastings." Mr.Vernon stared.

Was this stupidity, or what?
"A woman has an empire more undisputed than Mr.Pitt's, and more pitiless than that of Governor Hastings." "Oh, pardon me, Mr.Vernon--" "Charles, if you please." Lucretia's brow darkened.
"Pardon me," she repeated; "but these compliments, if such they are meant to be, meet a very ungrateful return.

A woman's empire over gauzes and ribbons, over tea-tables and drums, over fops and coquettes, is not worth a journey from Laughton to London." "You think you can despise admiration ?" "What you mean by admiration,--yes." "And love too ?" said Vernon, in a whisper.
Now Lucretia at once and abruptly raised her eyes to her partner.

Was he aiming at her secret?
Was he hinting at intentions of his own?
The look chilled Vernon, and he turned away his head.
Suddenly, then, in pursuance of a new train of ideas, Lucretia altered her manner to him.