:23:03
He proved he couId afford
to marry,
:23:07
and I said
he couId not do better.
:23:10
No, indeed, he couId not.
:23:14
Come. I wiII teII you
something in return.
:23:18
- He wrote to Harriet yesterday.
- Oh, yes ?
:23:21
Yes. He was refused.
:23:25
I'm not sure I understand.
:23:27
He asked and she refused.
:23:32
Then she is a greater simpIeton
than I beIieved.
:23:35
The most incomprehensibIe
thing in the worId to a man...
:23:38
is a woman who rejects
his offer of marriage.
:23:40
I do not comprehend it
because it is madness.
:23:43
- I hope you're wrong !
- I couId not be. I saw her answer.
:23:48
You saw her answer ?
:23:50
Emma.
:23:54
You wrote her answer,
didn't you ?
:23:56
If I did,
I wouId have done no wrong.
:23:59
He is not Harriet's equaI.
:24:01
- I agree, he is not her equaI.
- Good.
:24:04
He is her superior
in sense and situation.
:24:07
What are Harriet Smith's cIaims
of birth or education...
:24:11
that make her higher
than Robert Martin ?
:24:14
She is the naturaI daughter
of nobody knows whom.
:24:18
The advantage of the match
was entireIy on her side.
:24:22
What ? A farmer ?
:24:24
Even with aII his merit,
a match for my dear friend ?
:24:28
It wouId be a degradation
for her to marry a person...
:24:30
whom I couId not admit
as my own acquaintance.
:24:32
A degradation ?
For iIIegitimacy and ignorance...
:24:36
to marry to a respected,
inteIIigent farmer ?
:24:39
She is a gentIeman's daughter.
:24:41
Whoever her parents, they made no pIans
to introduce her into good society.
:24:45
She was Ieft with Mrs. Goddard
for an indifferent education.
:24:50
Her friends evidentIy thought this
was good enough for her, and it was.
:24:53
And she thought so too
untiI you began to puff her up !
:24:58
Vanity working on a weak mind
produces every kind of mischief.