Sterl. Ay, I grant you, if my ſiſter approved.—But that's quite another thing, you know.—
Mrs. Heidel. Your ſiſter approve, indeed!—I thought you knew her better, brother Sterling!—What! approve of having your eldeſt daughter returned upon your hands, and exchanged for the younger?—I am ſurprized how you could liſten to ſuch a ſcandalus propoſal.
Sterl. I tell you, I never did liſten to it.—Did not I ſay that I would be governed entirely by my ſiſter, Sir John?—And unleſs ſhe agreed to your marrying Fanny—
Mrs. Heidel. I agree to his marrying Fanny? abominable! The man is abſolutely out of his ſenſes.—Can't that wiſe head of yours foreſee the conſequence of all this, brother Sterling? Will Sir John take Fanny without a fortune? No.—After you have ſettled the largeſt part of your property on your youngeſt daughter, can there be an equal portion left for the eldeſt? No.—Does not this overturn the whole ſyſtum of the fammaly? Yes, yes, yes. You know I was always for my niece Betſey's marrying a perſon of the very firſt quallaty. That was my maxum. And, therefore, much the largeſt ſettlement was of courſe to be made upon her.—As for Fanny, if ſhe could, with a fortune of twenty or thirty thouſand pounds, get a knight, or a member of parliament, or a rich common-council-man for a huſband, I thought it might do very well.
Sir John. But if a better match ſhould offer itſelf, why ſhould not it be accepted, Madam?
Mrs. Heidel. What! at the expence of her elder ſiſter! Oh fie, Sir John!—How could you bear to hear of ſuch an indignaty, brother Sterling?
Sterl. I! nay, I ſhan't hear of it, I promiſe you.—I can't hear of it indeed, Sir John.
Mrs. Heidel. But you have heard of it, brother Sterling. You know you have; and ſent Sir John
