Read "Nightmare Abbey" by Thomas Love Peacock online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Mr. Toobad had found his daughter Celinda in London, and after the first joy of meeting was over, told her he had a husband ready for her. The young lady replied, very gravely, that she should take the liberty to choose for herself. Mr. Toobad said he saw the devil was determined to interfere with all his projects, but he was resolved on his own part, not to have on his conscience the crime of passive obedience and nonresistance to Lucifer, and therefore she should marry the person he had chosen for her. Miss Toobad replied, très posément, she assuredly would not. "Celinda, Celinda," said Mr. Toobad, "you most assuredly shall."
"Have I not a fortune in my own right, sir? " said Celinda.