Page:The Clandestine Marriage (1766).djvu/23

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A COMEDY.
7

Lovew. And I flatter myſelf, that ſuch a propoſal would not be very diſagreeable to Miſs Fanny.

Sterl. Better and better!

Lovew. And if I could but obtain your conſent, Sir,——

Sterl. What! you marry Fanny!—no—no—that will never do, Lovewell!—You're a good boy, to be ſure—I have a great value for you—but can't think of you for a ſon-in-law.—There's no Stuff in the caſe, no money, Lovewell!

Lovew. My pretenſions to fortune, indeed, are but moderate: but though not equal to ſplendor, ſufficient to keep us above diſtreſs.—Add to which, that I hope by diligence to increaſe it—and have love, honour——

Sterl. But not the Stuff, Lovewell!—Add one little round o to the ſum total of your fortune, and that will be the fineſt thing you can ſay to me.—You know I've a regard for you—would do any thing to ſerve you—any thing on the footing of friendſhip—but——

Lovew. If you think me worthy of your friendſhip, Sir, be aſſured, that there is no inſtance in which I ſhould rate your friendſhip ſo highly.

Sterl. Pſha! pſha! that's another thing, you know.—Where money or intereſt is concerned, friendſhip is quite out of the queſtion.

Lovew. But where the happineſs of a daughter is at ſtake, you wou'd not ſcruple, ſure, to ſacrifice a little to her inclinations.

Sterl. Inclinations! why, you wou'd not perſuade me that the girl is in love with you—eh, Lovewell!

Lovew. I cannot abſolutely anſwer for Miſs Fanny, Sir; but am ſure that the chief happineſs or miſery of my life depends entirely upon her.

Sterl. Why, indeed now if your kinſman, Lord Ogleby, would come down handſomely for you—but that's impoſſible—No, no—'twill never do—I

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