The Coquette

Lucy begs Eliza to listen to Mrs. Richman and not fall into Sanford’s trap. She notes that Sanford has never once mentioned marriage to Eliza, and that is suspicious. She writes that the desire of reforming a rake has undone countless women. Furthermore, a virtuous woman should not even associate with such a depraved figure and is horrified at the notion of Eliza falling for one. 

Lucy claims that Major Sanford is “destitute of fortune, prudence, economy, and regularity” (58). She paints a picture of the major as a man who is all show, lacking the basic virtues possessed by someone like Mr. Boyer, and believes Eliza is too rational to pick Boyer over the reverend.

Lucy has visited Eliza’s mother, who believes that Eliza is planning to marry Mr. Boyer. Lucy is in preparation to get married too, and stresses to Eliza the gravity of marriage as a lifelong union. She looks forward to seeing Lucy soon.

Eliza tells Lucy that she has described Major Sanford in unfair terms, but not to worry because she has renounced him entirely. General Richman and his wife succeeded in convincing her to break off relations with Sanford. 

Sanford invites Eliza to spend an hour with him.