ou do, or not]
let me ask you, as if I were your real mother, 'Have you any expectation
that Sir Charles Grandison will be yours?'

Dear madam, is not this as hard a question to be put to me, as that which
you put to him?

Yes, my dear--full as hard. And I am as ready to ask your pardon, as I
was his, if you are really displeased with me for putting it. Are you,
Miss Byron? Excuse me, Mrs. Reeves, for thus urging your lovely cousin:
I am at least entitled to the excuse Sir Charles Grandison made for me,
that it is a demonstration of my value for her.

I have declared, madam, returned I, and it is from my heart, that I think
he ought to be the husband of the lady abroad: and though I prefer him to
all the men I ever saw, yet I have resolved, if possible, to conquer the
particular regard I have for him. He has in a very noble manner offered
me his friendship, so long as it may be accepted without interfering with
any other attachments on my part: and I will be satisfied with that.

A friendship so pure, replied the countess, as that of such a man, is
consistent with any other attachments. My Lord D---- will, with his
whole soul, contribute all in his power to strengthen it: he admires Sir
Charles Grandison: he would think it a double honour to be acquainted
with him through you. Dearest Miss Byron, take another worthy young man
into your friendship, but with a tenderer name: I shall then claim a
fourth place in it for myself. O my dear! What a quadruple knot will
you tie!

Your ladyship does me too much honour, was all I could just then reply.

I must have an answer, my dear: I will not take up with a compliment.

This, then, madam, is my answer--I hope I am an honest creature: I have
not a heart to give.

Then you have expectations, my dear.--Well, I will call you mine, if I
can. Never did I think that I could have made the proposal, that I am
going to make you: but in my eyes, as well as in my lord's, you are an
incomparable young woman.--This is it.--We will not think of the alliance
proposed to us (it is yet but a proposal, and to which we have not
returned any answer) till we see what turn the affair Sir Charles is gone
upon, takes. You once said, you could prefer my son to any of the men
that had hitherto applied to you for your favour. Your affections to Sir
Charles were engaged before you knew us. Will you allow my son this
preference, which will be the first preference, if Sir Charles engages
himself abr