Sayfa 792 / 817

"Lizzy," said her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the

kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything,

which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are

resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of

it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be

neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your

husband, unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively

talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal

marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My

child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect

your partner in life. You know not what you are about."