Earnest in example sentence
'Why,' says he, 'I wish you would satisfy me that an honest woman would take me; I'd venture it'; and then turns short upon me, 'Will you take me, madam?''That's not a fair question,' says I, 'after what you have said; however, lest you should think I wait only for a recantation of it, I shall answer you plainly, No, not I; my business is of another kind with you, and I did not expect you would have turned my serious application to you, in my own distracted case, into a comedy.''Why, madam,' says he, 'my case is as distracted as yours can be, and I stand in as much need of advice as you do, for I think if I have not relief somewhere, I shall be made myself, and I know not what course to take, I protest to you.''Why, sir,' says I, ''tis easy to give advice in your case, much easier than it is in mine.''Speak then,' says he, 'I beg of you, for now you encourage me.''Why,' says I, 'if your case is so plain as you say it is, you may be legally divorced, and then you may find honest women enough to ask the question of fairly; the sex is not so scarce that you can want a wife.''Well, then,' said he, 'I am in earnest; I'll take your advice; but shall I ask you one question seriously beforehand?''Any question,' said I, 'but that you did before.'