"Well, suppose I reform my morals?"
"That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the
elements of reformation are rather slight within you."
"Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be
judged of his morals before marriage, but after."
"Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated,
right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to
be such."
"But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither
have I the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and
over-impulsive from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off
with the new state. No, no, d--n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe
such prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down
and bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most
edifying attention. Another glass of grog?"
"No, no."
"But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making
impressions against me."
"Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that
quarter."
"Will you allow me to try?" asked Hycy.
"I have not the slightest objection," replied the other, "because I
know how it will result."
"Very well,--thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, seriously
speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of lives we
ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles.
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