BARON. Certainly. For have we not an instance of one German woman, who possesses every virtue that ornaments the whole sex; whether as a woman of illustrious rank, or in the more exalted character of a wife, and mother? _Enter Mr._ ANHALT. MR. ANHALT. I come by your command, Baron—— BARON. Quick, Count.—Get your elegant gun.—I pass your apartments, and will soon call for you. COUNT. I fly.—Beautiful Amelia, it is a sacrifice I make to your father, that I leave for a few hours his amiable daughter. [_Exit._ BARON. My dear Amelia, I think it scarcely necessary to speak to Mr. Anhalt, or that he should speak to you, on the subject of the Count; but as he is here, leave us alone. AMELIA. [_as she retires_]. Good morning, Mr. Anhalt.—I hope you are very well. [_Exit._ BARON. I’ll tell you in a few words why I sent for you. Count Cassel is here, and wishes to marry my daughter. MR. ANHALT. [_much concerned_]. Really! BARON. He is—he—in a word I don’t like him. MR. ANHALT. [_with emotion_]. And Miss Wildenhaim —— BARON. I shall not command, neither persuade her to the marriage—I know too well the fatal influence of parents on such a subject. Objections to be sure, if they could be removed—But when you find a man’s head without brains, and his bosom without a heart, these are important articles to supply. Young as you are, Anhalt, I know no one so able to restore, or to bestow those blessings on his fellow-creatures, as you. [Anhalt _bows._] The Count wants a little of my daughter’s simplicity and sensibility.—Take him under your care while he is here, and make him something like yourself.—You have succeeded to my wish in the education of my daughter.—Form the Count after your own manner.—I shall then have what I have sighed for all my life—a son. MR. ANHALT. With your permission, Baron, I will ask one question. What remains to interest you in favour of a man, whose head and heart are good for nothing? BARON. Birth and fortune. Yet, if I thought my daughter absolutely disliked him, or that she loved another, I would not thwart a first affection;—no, for the world, I would not. [_sighing._] But that her affections are already bestowed, is not probable. MR. ANHALT. Are you of opinion that she will never fall in love? BARON. Oh! no. I am of opinion that no woman ever arrived at the age of twenty without that misfortune.—But this is another subject.—Go to Amelia—explain to her the duties of a wife and of a mother.—If she comprehends them, as she ought, then ask her if she thinks she could fulfil those duties, as the wife of Count Cassel. MR. ANHALT. I will.—But—I—Miss Wildenhaim—[_confused._ I—I shall—I—I shall obey your commands. BARON. Do so. [_gives a deep sigh._] Ah! so far this weight is removed; but there lies still a heavier next my heart.—You understand me.—How is it, Mr. Anhalt? Have you not yet been able to make any discoveries on that unfortunate subject?