
of thirty must certainly be supposed to know what will make her most happy. She
hath married a Gentleman, tho' perhaps not quite her Equal in Fortune; and if he
hath any Perfections in her Eye, which can make up that Deficiency, I see no
Reason why I should object to her Choice of her own Happiness; which I, no more
than herself, imagine to consist only in immense Wealth. I might, perhaps, from
the many Declarations I have made, of complying with almost any Proposal, have
expected to have been consulted on this Occasion; but these Matters are of a
very delicate Nature, and the Scruples of Modesty perhaps are not to be
overcome. As to your Brother, I have really no Anger against him at all. He hath
no Obligations to me, nor do I think he was under any Necessity of asking my
Consent, since the Woman is, as I have said, Sui Juris, and of a proper Age to
be entirely answerable only to herself for her Conduct.«
    The Doctor accused Mr. Allworthy of too great Lenity, repeated his
Accusations against his Brother, and declared that he should never more be
brought either to see, or to own him for his Relation. He then launched forth
into a Panegyric on Allworthy's Goodness, into the highest Encomiums on his
Friendship; and concluded, by saying, He should never forgive his Brother for
having put the Place which he bore in that Friendship, to a Hazard.
    Allworthy thus answer'd: »Had I conceived any Displeasure against your
Brother, I should never have carried that Resentment to the Innocent: But, I
assure you, I have no such Displeasure. Your Brother appears to me to be a Man
of Sense and Honour. I do not disapprove the Taste of my Sister; nor will I
doubt but that she is equally the Object of his Inclinations. I have always
thought Love the only Foundation of Happiness in a married State; as it can only
produce that high and tender Friendship, which should always be the Cement of
this Union; and, in my Opinion, all those Marriages which are contracted from
other Motives, are greatly criminal; they are a Profanation of a most holy
Ceremony, and generally end in Disquiet and Misery: For surely we may call it a
Profanation, to convert this most sacred Institution into a wicked Sacrifice to
Lust, or Avarice: And what better can be said of those Matches to which Men are
induced merely by the Consideration of a beautiful Person, or a great Fortune!
    To deny that Beauty is an agreeable Object to
