Date: 1794

"Yet, though the thought of dismissing Valancourt was so very painful to her, that she could scarcely endure to pause upon it, the consciousness of this made her fear the partiality of her judgment, and hesitate still more to encourage that suit, for which her own heart too tenderly pleaded."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"The love of sway was her ruling passion, and she knew it would be highly gratified by taking into her house a young orphan, who had no appeal from her decisions, and on whom she could exercise without controul the capricious humour of the moment."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"Emily forgot Madame Cheron and all the circumstances of her conduct, while her thoughts ascended to the contemplation, of those unnumbered worlds, that lie scattered in the depths of aether, thousands of them hid from human eyes, and almost beyond the flight of human fancy."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"As her imagination soared through the regions of space, and aspired to that Great First Cause, which pervades and governs all being, the idea of her father scarcely ever left her; but it was a pleasing idea, since she resigned him to God in the full confidence of a pure and holy faith."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"'Can this be my father's sister!' said she to herself; and then the conviction that she was so, warming her heart with something like kindness towards her, she felt anxious to soften the harsh impression her mind had received of her aunt's character, and to shew a willingness to oblige her."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"On the distant horizon to the south, she discovered the wild summits of the Pyrenées, and her fancy immediately painted the green pastures of Gascony at their feet."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"Her thoughts, however, did not dwell long on the subject; nearer interests pressed upon them; Valancourt, rejected of her aunt, and Valancourt dancing with a gay and beautiful partner, alternately tormented her mind."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"O Emily! these are moments, in which joy and grief struggle so powerfully for pre-eminence, that the heart can scarcely support the contest!"

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"I shall look, and cannot see you; shall try to recollect your features--and the impression will be fled from my imagination;--to hear the tones of your voice, and even memory will be silent!--I cannot, cannot leave you!"

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"But, as his imagination magnified to her the possible evils she was going to meet, the mists of her own fancy began to dissipate, and allowed her to distinguish the exaggerated images, which imposed on his reason."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)