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 thaw--” It 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 afk it. But your severity shall never abate my affection, as my punishment is but justice.

CROAKER.

And yet you should not defpair neither, Livy. We ought to hope all for the beft.

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.
CROAKER.

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 just sense he has of his duty, I can anfwer 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

LEONTINE.

How, Sir! Is it pofiible to be filent, when fo much obliged! Would you refufe me the pleasure of being grateful! of adding my thanks to my Olivia's! of fharing in the tranfports that you have thus occafioned?

CROAKER.

Lord, Sir, we can be happy enough, without your coming in to make up the party. I don't know what's the matter with the boy all this day; he has got into fuch a rhodomontade manner all this morning!

LEONTINE.

But, Sir, I that have fo large a part in the benefit, is it not my duty to fhew my joy? is the being admitted to your favour fo flight an obligation? is the happiness of marrying my Olivia fo fmall a bleffing?

CROAKER.

Marrying Olivia! marrying Olivia! marrying his own fifter! Sure the boy is out of his fenfes. His own fifter!

CROAKER.

What does the booby mean? or has he any meaning? Eh, what do you mean, you blockhead you ? LEONTINE.

Mean, Sir-why, Sir-only when my fifter is to be married, that I have the pleasure of marrying her, Sir, that is, of giving her away, Sir-I have made a point of it.

O, is that all.

CROAKER.

Give her away. You have made a point of it. Then you had as good make a point of firft giving away yourself, as I'm going to prepare the writings between you and Mifs Richland this very minute. What a fuss is here about nothing! Why, what's the matter now? I thought I had made you at least as happy as you could wish.

OLIVIA.

O! yes, Sir, very happy.

CROAKER.

Do you foresee any thing, child? You look as if you did. I think if any thing was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look out as another: and yet I forefee nothing.

LEONTINE, OLIVIA.

OLIVIA.

LEONTINE.

1 What can it mean?

[Exit.

He knows fomething, and yet for my life I can't

tell what.

OLIVIA.

OLIVIA.

It can't be the connection between us, I'm pretty certain.

LEONTINE.

Whatever it be, my dearest, I'm refolved to put it out of fortune's power to repeat our mortification. I'll hafte and prepare for our journey to Scotland this very evening. My friend Honeywood has promifed me his advice and affiftance. I'll go to him, and repose our distresses on his friendly bofom: and I know fo much of his honeft heart, that if he can't relieve our uneafineffes, he will at least share them.