desire is to see you both happy." And then addressing himself to David, he said, "Are there any words, sir, capable of expressing the gratitude I owe you for your supporting so generously these two young creatures?"
David, who had trembled from the time he had mentioned my Lord ———, now thought he had an opportunity to speak; and immediately replied, "If, sir, you think you have any obligations to me, which I assure you I do not, as I am fully paid by having served persons of such worth as Valentine and Camilla, it is in your power to give me all my soul holds dear. Consent to my having a title to call you father, by being joined for ever to Camilla, and the world cannot produce a man so happy as myself." Camilla added that it was what she wished, and related in what manner she had already refused my Lord ———. On which the old gentleman immediately joined their hands, assuring David he had rather see his daughter married to the man whose actions had so strongly proved his real love for her than to any estate or title in Europe.
Camilla saw Valentine was afraid to speak, as Cynthia had not yet given him permission; and therefore undertook it herself, as she was resolved to make her own happiness complete by adding that of her brother to it. She told her father that, to complete the general joy, there was yet wanting his consent to her brother's taking Cynthia for a wife. On this Valentine fell on his knees, and said his sister had asked the only thing which could make him happy. His desires were no sooner known than complied with by his now once more father.
Cynthia, on hearing that he might be able to with her in a decent though plain way, thought she had now no longer any reason to refuse him happiness of being her support and protector,
