You can, madam! You do!--I cannot allow Lady Beauchamp to be one of
those women, who having insisted upon a wrong point, can be convinced,
yet not know how to recede with a grace.--Be so kind to yourself, as to
let Sir Harry know, that you think it right for Mr. Beauchamp to return;
but that it must be upon your own conditions: then, madam, make those
conditions generous ones; and how will Sir Harry adore you! How will Mr.
Beauchamp revere you! How shall I esteem you!
What a strange impertinent have I before me!
I love to be called names by a lady. If undeservedly, she lays herself
by them under obligation to me, which she cannot be generous if she
resolves not to repay. Shall I endeavour to find out Sir Harry? Or will
you, madam?
Was you ever, Sir Charles Grandison, denied by any woman to whom you sued
for favour?
I think, madam, I hardly ever was: but it was because I never sued for a
favour, that it was not for a lady's honour to grant. This is the case
now; and this makes me determine, that I will not be denied the grant of
my present request. Come, come, madam! How can a woman of your
ladyship's good sense (taking her hand, and leading her to the door) seem
to want to be persuaded to do a thing she knows in her heart to be right!
Let us find Sir Harry.