I could never have undergone so much for any other but you. LEONTINE. And you fhall find my gratitude equal to your kindest compliance. Though our friends should totally forsfake us, Olivia, we can draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune. OLIVIA. Then why should we defer our scheme of humble happiness, when it is now in our power? I may be the favourite of your father, it is true; but can it ever be thought, that his prefent kindness to a fuppofed child, will continue to a known deceiver? LEONTINE. I have many reafons to believe it will. As his attachments are but few, they are lafting. His own marriage was a private one, as ours may be. Befides, I have founded him already at a distance, and find all his answers exactly to our wish. Nay, by an expreffion or two that dropped from him, I am induced to think he knows of this affair. OLIVIA. Indeed! But that would be an happiness too great to be expected. LEONTINE. However it be, I'm certain you have power over him; and am perfuaded, if you informed him of our fituation, that he would be difpofed to pardon it. OLIVIA. OLIVIA. You had equal expectations, Leontine, from your laft scheme with Mifs Richland, which you find has fucceeded moft wretchedly. LEONTINE. And that's the beft reason for trying another. OLIVIA. If it must be fo, I fubmit. LEONTINE. As we could wish, he comes this way. Now, my deareft Olivia, be refolute. I'll juft retire within hearing, to come in at a proper time, either to share your danger, or confirm your victory. [Exit. Enter CROAKER. CROAKER. Yes, I must forgive her; and yet not too eafily, neither. It will be proper to keep up the decorums of refentment a little, if it be only to imprefs her with an idea of my authority. OLIVIA. How I tremble to approach him!-Might I prefume, Sir-If I interrupt you CROAKER. No, child, where I have an affection, it is not a little thing that can interrupt me. over little things. Affection gets OLIVIA. OLIVIA. Sir, you're too kind. I'm fenfible how ill I deferve this partiality. Yet, heaven knows, there is nothing I would not do to gain it. CROAKER. And you have but too well fucceeded, you little huffey, you. With thofe endearing ways of yours, on my confcience, I could be brought to forgive any thing, unless it were a very great offence indeed. OLIVIA. But mine is fuch an offence-When you know my guilt-Yes, you fhall know it, though I feel the greateft pain in the confeffion. CROAKER. Why then, if it be fo very great a pain, you may fpare yourself the trouble; for I know every fyllable of the matter before you begin. OLIVIA. Indeed! Then I'm undone. CROAKER. Ay, mifs, you wanted to fteal a match, without letting me know it, did you? But, I'm not worth being confulted, I fuppofe, when there's to be a marriage in my own family. No, I'm to have no hand in the disposal of my own children. No, I'm nobody. I'm to be a mere article of family lum; a piece of crack'd china to be stuck up in a be corner. OLIVIA. OLIVIA. Dear Sir, nothing but the dread of your authority could induce us to conceal it from you. CROAKER. No, no, my confequence is no more; I'm as little minded as a dead Ruffian in winter, juft ftuck up with a pipe in his mouth till there comes a thawIt goes to my heart to vex her. (Afide.) OLIVIA. I was prepar'd, Sir, for your anger, and despair'd of pardon, even while I prefume to ask it. But your severity fhall never abate my affection, as my punishment is but justice. CROAKER. And yet you should not despair neither, Livy. We ought to hope all for the best. OLIVIA. And do you permit me to hope, Sir? Can I ever expect to be forgiven? But hope has too long deceived me. CROAKER. Why then, child, it fhan't deceive you now, for I forgive you this very moment. I forgive you all; and now you are indeed my daughter. OLIVIA. O tranfport! This kindness overpowers me. I was always against feverity to our children. We have been young and giddy ourselves, and we can't expect boys and girls to be old before their time. OLIVIA. OLIVIA. What generofity! But can you forget the many falfehoods, the diffimulation CROAKER. You did indeed diffemble, you urchin you; but where's the girl that won't diffemble for an hufband? My wife and I had never been married, if we had not diffembled a little beforehand. OLIVIA. It shall be my future care never to put fuch generofity to a fecond trial. And as for the partner of my offence and folly, from his native honour, and the juft fenfe he has of his duty, I can answer for him that Enter LEONTINE. LEONTINE. Permit him thus to answer for himself. (Kneeling.) Thus, Sir, let me speak my gratitude for this unmerited forgiveness. Yes, Sir, this even exceeds all your former tenderness: I now can boaft the most indulgent of fathers. The life he gave, compared to this, was but a trifling bleffing. CROAKER. And, good Sir, who fent for you, with that fine tragedy face, and flourishing manner? I don't know what we have to do with your gratitude upon this occafion. LEON |