Page:The Clandestine Marriage (1766).djvu/89

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A COMEDY.
73

any body in the gallery; and let us know directly.

Betty. I warrant you, Madam—the Lord bleſs you both! [Exit.

Fanny. What did my father want with you this evening?

Lovew. He gave me the key of his cloſet, with orders to bring from London ſome papers relating to Lord Ogleby.

Fanny. And why did not you obey him?

Lovew. Becauſe I am certain that his Lordſhip has open'd his heart to him about you, and thoſe papers are wanted merely on that account—but as we ſhall diſcover all to-morrow, there will be no occaſion for them, and it would be idle in me to go.

Fanny. Hark!—hark! bleſs me, how I tremble!—I feel the terrors of guilt—indeed, Mr. Lovewell, this is too much for me.

Lovew. And for me too, my ſweet Fanny. Your apprehenſions make a coward of me.—But what can alarm you? your aunt and ſiſter are in their chambers, and you have nothing to fear from the reſt of the family.

Fanny. I fear every body, and every thing, and every moment—My mind is in continual agitation and dread;—indeed, Mr. Lovewell, this ſituation may have very unhappy conſequences. [weeps.

Lovew. But it ſhan't—I would rather tell our ſtory this moment to all the houſe, and run the riſque of maintaining you by the hardeſt labour, than ſuffer you to remain in this dangerous perplexity.—What! ſhall I ſacrifice all my beſt hopes and affections, in your dear health and ſafety, for the mean, and in ſuch a caſe, the meaneſt conſideration—of our fortune! Were we to be abandon'd by all our relations, we have that in our hearts and minds, will weigh againſt the moſt affluent circumſtances.—I ſhould not have propos'd the ſecrecy of our marriage, but for your ſake; and with hopes that the

moſt