Miss Sophia will, I am sure, make him very happy, and he shall have from me five hundred pounds as her fortune, and upon this I am sure they can live very comfortably together.

Come, Miss Sophia, what say you to this match of my making?
Will you have him ?'--My poor girl seemed almost sinking into her mother's arms at the hideous proposal.--'Have him, Sir!' cried she faintly.

'No, Sir, never.'-- 'What,' cried he again, 'not have Mr Jenkinson, your benefactor, a handsome young fellow, with five hundred pounds and good expectations!'-- 'I beg, Sir,' returned she, scarce able to speak, 'that you'll desist, and not make me so very wretched.'-- 'Was ever such obstinacy known,' cried he again, 'to refuse a man whom the family has such infinite obligations to, who has preserved your sister, and who has five hundred pounds! What not have him!'-- 'No, Sir, never,' replied she, angrily, 'I'd sooner die first.'-- 'If that be the case then,' cried he, 'if you will not have him--I think I must have you myself.' And so saying, he caught her to his breast with ardour.

'My loveliest, my most sensible of girls,' cried he, 'how could you ever think your own Burchell could deceive you, or that Sir William Thornhill could ever cease to admire a mistress that loved him for himself alone?
I have for some years sought for a woman, who a stranger to my fortune could think that I had merit as a man.

After having tried in vain, even amongst the pert and the ugly, how great at last must be my rapture to have made a conquest over such sense and such heavenly beauty.' Then turning to Jenkinson, 'As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady myself, for she has taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the recompence I can make is to give you her fortune, and you may call upon my steward to-morrow for five hundred pounds.' Thus we had all our compliments to repeat, and Lady Thornhill underwent the same round of ceremony that her sister had done before.