COUNT. Did _your_ villain atone?

BARON. No: when his reason was matured, he wished to make some recompense; but his endeavours were too late.

COUNT. I will follow his example, and wait till my reason is matured, before I think myself competent to determine what to do.

BARON. And 'till that time I defer your marriage with my daughter.

COUNT. Would you delay her happiness so long? Why, my dear Baron, considering the fashionable life I lead, it may be ten years before my judgment arrives to its necessary standard.

BARON. I have the head-ach, Count--These tidings have discomposed, disordered me--I beg your absence for a few minutes.

COUNT. I obey--And let me a.s.sure you, my Lord, that, although, from the extreme delicacy of your honour, you have ever through life shuddered at seduction; yet, there are const.i.tutions, and there are circ.u.mstances, in which it can be palliated.

BARON. Never [violently].

COUNT. Not in a grave, serious, reflecting man such as _you_, I grant.

But in a gay, lively, inconsiderate, flimsy, frivolous c.o.xcomb, such as myself, it is excusable: for me to keep my word to a woman, would be deceit: 'tis not expected of me. It is in my character to break oaths in love; as it is in your nature, my Lord, never to have spoken any thing but wisdom and truth. [Exit

BARON. Could I have thought a creature so insignificant as that, had power to excite sensations such as I feel at present! I am, indeed, worse than he is, as much as the crimes of a man exceed those of an idiot.

Enter AMELIA.

AMELIA. I heard the Count leave you, my Lord, and so I am come to enquire----

BARON [sitting down, and trying to compose himself]. You are not to marry count Ca.s.sel--And now, mention his name to me no more.

AMELIA. I won't--indeed I won't--for I hate his name.--But thank you, my dear father, for this good news [draws a chair, and sits on the opposite side of the table on which he leans.--And after a pause] And who am I to marry?

BARON [his head on his hand]. I can't tell.

[Amelia appears to have something on her mind which she wishes to disclose.]

AMELIA. I never liked the Count.

BARON. No more did I.

AMELIA [after a pause]. I think love comes just as it pleases, without being asked.

BARON. It does so [in deep thought].

AMELIA [after another pause]. And there are instances where, perhaps, the object of love makes the pa.s.sion meritorious.

BARON. To be sure there are.

AMELIA. For example; my affection for Mr. Anhalt as my tutor.

BARON. Right.

AMELIA [after another pause]. I should like to marry. [sighing.]

BARON. So you shall [a pause]. It is proper for every body to marry.

AMELIA. Why, then, does not Mr. Anhalt marry?

BARON. You must ask him that question yourself.

AMELIA. A have.

BARON. And what did he say?

AMELIA. Will you give me leave to tell you what he said?

BARON. Certainly.

AMELIA. And you won't be angry?

BARON. Undoubtedly not.

AMELIA. Why, then--you know you commanded me never to disguise or conceal the truth.

BARON. I did so.

AMELIA. Why, then he said----

BARON. What did he say?

AMELIA. He said--he would not marry me without your consent for the world.

BARON [starting from his chair]. And pray, how came this the subject of your conversation?

AMELIA [rising]. _I_ brought it up.

BARON. And what did you say?

AMELIA. I said that birth and fortune were such old-fashioned things to me, I cared nothing about either: and that I had once heard my father declare, he should consult my happiness in marrying me, beyond any other consideration.

BARON. I will once more repeat to you my sentiments. It is the custom in this country for the children of n.o.bility to marry only with their equals; but as my daughter's content is more dear to me than an ancient custom, I would bestow you on the first man I thought calculated to make you happy: by this I do not mean to say that I should not be severely nice in the character of the man to whom I gave you; and Mr.

Anhalt, from his obligations to me, and his high sense of honour, thinks too n.o.bly--

AMELIA. Would it not be n.o.ble to make the daughter of his benefactor happy?

BARON. But when that daughter is a child, and thinks like a child----

AMELIA. No, indeed, papa, I begin to think very like a woman. Ask _him_ if I don't.

BARON. Ask him! You feel grat.i.tude for the instructions you have received from him, and fancy it love.

AMELIA. Are there two grat.i.tudes?