But the condescension of the ladies was still superior to their other accomplishments.

One of them observed, that had miss Olivia seen a little more of the world, it would greatly improve her.

To which the other added, that a single winter in town would make her little Sophia quite another thing.

My wife warmly assented to both; adding, that there was nothing she more ardently wished than to give her girls a single winter's polishing.

To this I could not help replying, that their breeding was already superior to their fortune; and that greater refinement would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous, and give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess.--'And what pleasures,' cried Mr Thornhill, 'do they not deserve to possess, who have so much in their power to bestow?
As for my part,' continued he, 'my fortune is pretty large, love, liberty, and pleasure, are my maxims; but curse me if a settlement of half my estate could give my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers; and the only favour I would ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit.' I was not such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that this was the fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal; but I made an effort to suppress my resentment.