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Book, page 151 / 484 "Nay," said Lady Jane, "no matter whether we call it friendship or not; I will answer for it, that without any refined notions about perfect openness and confidence, your children will be fond of you, if you are indulgent to them in certain points. Caroline, my dear," said she, turning to Caroline, who was at the farthest end of the room, "don't look so unconscious, for you are a party concerned; so come and kneel at the feet of this perverse father of yours, to plead your cause and mine--I must take you with me to Tunbridge. You must let me have her a summer and winter, and I will answer for Caroline's success." "What does your ladyship mean by my success?" said Caroline. "Why, child--Now don't play your father's philosophic airs upon me! We people who live in the world, and not with philosophers, are not prepared for such entrapping interrogatories. But come, I mean in plain English, my dear, though I am afraid it will shock your ears, that you will be" (speaking loud) "pretty well admired, pretty well abused, and--oh, shocking!--pretty well married." "Pretty well married!" repeated Mrs. Percy, in a scornful tone: "but neither Caroline nor I should be satisfied unless she be very well married." "Heyday! There is no knowing where to have you _lady_ philosophers. This morning you did not desire a coach and four for your daughters, not you; now you quarrel with me on the other side of the question. Really, for a lady of moderation, you are a little exorbitant. _Pretty well married_, you know, implies 2000_l._ a-year; and very well married, nothing under 10,000_l._" "Is that the language of the market? I did not understand the exact meaning of _very well married_--did you, Caroline? I own I expect something more than 10,000_l._ a-year." "More!--you unconscionable wretch! how much more?" said Lady Jane. "Infinitely more," said Mr. Percy: "I expect a man of sense, temper, and virtue, who would love my daughter as she deserves to be loved." "Let me advise you," said Lady Jane, in her very gravest tone, "not to puff
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