Could I
think, that a brother of mine would so meanly run away with my late dear
mother's waiting-maid, and keep her a prisoner from all her friends, and
to the disgrace of your own? But I thought, when you would not let the
wench come to me on my mother's death, that you meant no good.--I blush
for you, I'll assure you. The girl was an innocent, good girl; but I
suppose that's over with her now, or soon will. What can you mean by
this, let me ask you? Either you will have her for a kept mistress, or
for a wife. If the former, there are enough to be had without ruining a
poor wench that my mother loved, and who really was a very good girl: and
of this you may be ashamed. As to the other, I dare say you don't think
of it; but if you should, you would be utterly inexcusable. Consider,
brother, that ours is no upstart family; but is as ancient as the best in
the kingdom! and, for several hundreds of years, it has never been known,
that the heirs of it have disgraced themselves by unequal matches: And
you know you have been sought to by some of the best families in the
nation, for your alliance. It might be well enough, if you were
descended of a family of yesterday, or but a remove or two from the dirt
you seem so fond of. But, let me tell you, that I, and all mine, will
renounce you for ever, if you can descend so meanly; and I shall be
ashamed to be called your sister.
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