HAST. My dear Constance, why will you deliberate thus? If we delay a moment, all is lost for ever. Pluck up a little resolution, and we shall soon be out of the reach of her malignity. MISS NEV. I find it impossible. My spirits are so sunk with the agitations I have suffered, that I am unable to face any new danger. Two or three years' patience will at last crown us with happiness. HAST. Such a tedious delay is worse than inconstancy. Let us fly, my charmer. Let us date our happiness from this very moment. Perish fortune. Love and content will increase what we possess, beyond a monarch's revenue. Let me prevail. MISS NEV. No, Mr. Hastings; no. Prudence once more comes to my relief, and I will obey its dictates. In the moment of passion, fortune may be despised; but it ever produces a lasting repentance. I am resolved to apply to Mr. Hardcastle's compassion and justice for redress. HAST. But though he had the will, he has not the power, to relieve you. MISS NEV. But he has influence, and upon that I am resolved to rely. HAST. I have no hopes. But since you persist, I must reluctantly obey you. _Exeunt._ _Scene changes._ _Enter_ SIR CHARLES _and_ MISS HARDCASTLE. SIR CHARLES. What a situation am I in! If what you say appears, I shall then find a guilty son. If what he says be true, I shall then lose one that, of all others, I most wished for a daughter. MISS HARD. I am proud of your approbation, and to show I merit it, if you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit declaration. But he comes. SIR CHARLES. I'll to your father, and keep him to the appointment. _Exit_ SIR CHARLES. _Enter_ MARLOW. MARL. Though prepared for setting out, I come once more to take leave; nor did I, till this moment, know the pain I feel in the separation. MISS HARD. (_In her own natural manner._) I believe these sufferings cannot be very great, sir, which you can so easily remove. A day or two longer, perhaps, might lessen your uneasiness, by showing the little value of what you now think proper to regret. MARL. (_Aside._) This girl every moment improves upon me. (_To her._) It must not be, madam. I have already trifled too long with my heart. My very pride begins to submit to my passion. The disparity of education and fortune, the anger of a parent, and the contempt of my equals, begin to lose their weight, and nothing can restore me to myself, but this painful effort of resolution. MISS HARD. Then go, sir. I'll urge nothing more to detain you. Though my family be as good as hers you came down to visit; and my education, I hope, not inferior, what are these advantages, without equal affluence? I must remain contented with the slight approbation of imputed merit; I must have only the mockery of your addresses, while all your serious aims are fixed on fortune. _Enter_ HARDCASTLE _and_ SIR CHARLES, _from behind_.