MARIA
I have a father, whom I would die to make happy;
he will disapprove--
MANLY
Do you think me so ungenerous as to seek a place
in your esteem without his consent? You must--you
ever ought to consider that man as unworthy of you
who seeks an interest in your heart contrary to a
father's approbation. A young lady should reflect
that the loss of a lover may be supplied, but nothing
can compensate for the loss of a parent's affection.
Yet, why do you suppose your father would disap-
prove? In our country, the affections are not sacri-
ficed to riches or family aggrandizement: should you
approve, my family is decent, and my rank honourable.
MARIA
You distress me, Sir.
MANLY
Then I will sincerely beg your excuse for obtruding
so disagreeable a subject, and retire. [Going.
MARIA
Stay, Sir! your generosity and good opinion of me
deserve a return; but why must I declare what, for
these few hours, I have scarce suffered myself to
think?--I am--
MANLY
What?
MARIA
Engaged, Sir; and, in a few days, to be married to
the gentleman you saw at your sister's.
MANLY
Engaged to be married! And have I been basely
invading the rights of another? Why have you per-
mitted this? Is this the return for the partiality I
declared for you?
MARIA
You distress me, Sir.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92