Lovew. You! wherefore?
Sir John. I don't like her.
Lovew. Very plain indeed! I never ſuppoſed that you was extremely devoted to her from inclination, but thought you always conſidered it as a matter of convenience, rather than affection.
Sir John. Very true. I came into the family without any impreſſions on my mind—with an unimpaſſioned indifference ready to receive one woman as ſoon as another. I looked upon love, ſerious, ſober love, as a chimæra, and marriage as a thing of courſe, as you know moſt people do. But I, who was lately ſo great an infidel in love, am now one of its ſincereſt votaries.—In ſhort, my defection from Miſs Sterling proceeds from the violence of my attachment to another.
Lovew. Another! So! ſo! here will be fine work. And pray who is ſhe?
Sir John. Who is ſhe! who can ſhe be? but Fanny, the tender, amiable, engaging Fanny.
Lovew. Fanny! What Fanny?
Sir John. Fanny Sterling. Her ſiſter—Is not ſhe an angel, Lovewell?
Lovew. Her ſiſter? Confuſion!—You muſt not think of it, Sir John.
Sir John. Not think of it? I can think of nothing elſe. Nay, tell me, Lovewell! was it poſſible for me to be indulged in a perpetual intercourſe with two ſuch objects as Fanny and her ſiſter, and not find my heart led by inſenſible attraction towards Her?—You ſeem confounded—Why don't you anſwer me?
Lovew. Indeed, Sir John, this event gives me infinite concern.
Sir John. Why ſo?—Is not ſhe an angel, Lovewell?
Lovew. I foreſee that it muſt produce the worſt conſequences. Conſider the confuſion it muſt unavoidably create. Let me perſuade you to drop theſe thoughts in time.
