m:--but--

But what, Sir!--Would you ever more argue with me, as if you were a
child?--Seeking palliations, and making promises?--Promises of what, Sir?
Of being in future the man it is a shame a gentleman is not?--Of being
the man--

Good God! interrupted he, with eyes lifted up, if thou wert to be thus
severe--

Well, well, Sir! [impatiently] I need only to observe, that all this
vast difference in sentiment shows how unpaired our minds are--so let
us--

Let us what, Madam?--My soul is rising into tumults! And he looked so
wildly, that I was a good deal terrified--Let us what, Madam?----

I was, however, resolved not to desert myself--Why, Sir! let us resolve
to quit every regard for each other.--Nay, flame not out--I am a poor
weak-minded creature in some things: but where what I should be, or not
deserve to live, if I am not is in the question, I have a great and
invincible spirit, or my own conceit betrays me--let us resolve to quit
every regard for each other that is more than civil. This you may depend
upon: I will never marry any other man. I have seen enough of your sex;
at least of you.--A single life shall ever be my choice: while I will
leave you at liberty to pursue your own.

Indifference, worse than indifference! said he, in a passion--

Interrupting him--Indifference let it be--you have not (in my opinion at
least) deserved that it should be other: if you have in your own, you
have cause (at least your pride has) to hate me for misjudging you.

Dearest, dearest creature! snatching my hand with fierceness, let me
beseech you to be uniformly noble! Civil regards, Madam!--Civil regards!
--Can you so expect to narrow and confine such a passion as mine?

Such a passion as yours, Mr. Lovelace, deserves to be narrowed and
confined. It is either the passion you do not think it, or I do not. I
question whether your mind is capable of being so narrowed and so
widened, as is necessary to make it be what I wish it to be. Lift up
your hands and your eyes, Sir, in silent wonder, if you please; but what
does that wonder express, what does it convince me of, but that we are
not born for one another.

By my soul, said he, and grasped my hand with an eagerness that hurt it,
we were born for one another: you must be mine--you shall be mine [and
put his other hand round me] although my damnation were to be the
purchase!

I was still more terrified--let me leave you, Mr. Lovelace, said I; or do
you be g