Jonty Claypole

Surely you must allow that the social state is what we were all meant for, that we were created for one another, that to form such a resolution is contrary to the design of our being.

He's trying to get philosophical with her.

He's saying, you know, human beings are a social animal, as Aristotle says, and therefore you're much better off in marriage.

All...

All this may be true, said I. I have nothing to say in contradiction to it.

But you know there are many odd characters in the world and I am one of them.

So she's doing the kind of it's not you, it's me.

I'm just a sort of... And she says, you know, I'm a singular, odd, queer, whimsical creature.

So please just leave me alone.

But he keeps on and on and it gets very, very uncomfortable.

And eventually she says, therefore, I must assure you, I'm fixed in the answer I have given you, unalterably fixed.

And then he says, what can I do, cried he very sorrowfully.

And then she says, why, go and ponder upon this affair for about half an hour.

Then say what an odd, queer, strange creature she is.

And then think of something else.

So I love the way she just runs out of words and tells him he has to think of something else.

So he finally goes.

She goes and sees her father in his study and she's terrified.

She's terrified her father's going to say, I'm really sorry, Francis.

I can't afford to keep you.