up your mind not to marry Richard Turlington--"

"Do talk reasonably. You know I have done all I could. I have told papa
that I can think of Richard as a friend, but not as a husband. He only
laughs at me, and says, 'Wait a little, and you will alter your opinion,
my dear.' You see Richard is everything to him; Richard has always
managed his affairs, and has saved him from losing by bad speculations;
Richard has known me from the time when I was a child; Richard has a
splendid business, and quantities of money. Papa can't even imagine that
I can resist Richard. I have tried my aunt; I have told her he is too
old for me. All she says is, 'Look at your father; he was much older
than your mother, and what a happy marriage theirs was.' Even if I said
in so many words, 'I won't marry Richard,' what good would it do to us?
Papa is the best and dearest old man in the world; but oh, he is so fond
of money! He believes in nothing else. He would be furious--yes, kind as
he is, he would be furious--if I even hinted that I was fond of _you_.
Any man who proposed to marry me--if he couldn't match the fortune that
I should bring him by a fortune of his own--would be a lunatic in papa's
eyes. He wouldn't think it necessary to answer him; he would ring the
bell, and have him shown out of the house. I am exaggerating nothing,
Launce; you know I am speaking the truth. There is no hope in the
future--that I can see--for either of us.

"Have you done, Natalie? I have something to say on my side if you
have."

"What is it?"

"If things go on as they are going on now, shall I tell you how it will
end? It will end in your being Turlington's wife."