. . I trust I have not . . . I am entirely
at your ladyship's mercy.'
'Are you prepared, if your daughter is asked in marriage, to settle ten
thousand pounds on her, General Ople?'
The General collected himself. In his heart he thoroughly appreciated the
moral beauty of Lady Camper's extreme solicitude on behalf of his
daughter's provision; but he would have desired a postponement of that
and other material questions belonging to a distant future until his own
fate was decided.
So he said: 'Your ladyship's generosity is very marked. I say it is very
marked.'
'How, my good General Ople! how is it marked in any degree?' cried Lady
Camper. 'I am not generous. I don't pretend to be; and certainly I don't
want the young people to think me so. I want to be just. I have assumed
that you intend to be the same. Then will you do me the favour to reply
to me?'
The General smiled winningly and intently, to show her that he prized
her, and would not let her escape his eulogies.
'Marked, in this way, dear madam, that you think of my daughter's future
more than I.
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