MISS HARDCASTLE
. . . But how goes on your own affair, my dear? has my mother been courting you
for my brother Tony, as usual?
MISS NEVILLE
I have just come from one of our agreeable tête-à-têtes. She has been saying a
hundred tender things, and setting off her pretty monster as the very pink of
perfection.
MISS HARDCASTLE
And her partiality is such, that she actually thinks him so . . .

In Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy "She Stoops to Conquer," the dialogue between Miss Hardcastle and Miss Neville highlights the absurdity of Mrs. Hardcastle's blind adoration for her son, Tony Lumpkin. Miss Neville humorously recounts Mrs. Hardcastle’s exaggerated praise of Tony, calling him "the very pink of perfection." This phrase captures the mother's biased and unrealistic view of her son, who is anything but perfect. The comedic effect lies in the juxtaposition between Mrs. Hardcastle’s perception and Tony’s actual character, which is far from ideal. Miss Hardcastle’s response underscores the humor by acknowledging her mother's genuine belief in Tony’s imagined virtues. This exchange not only provides comic relief but also critiques the often misplaced pride and favoritism parents can show toward their children, a theme that resonates with audiences even today.