_Sym._ My boy, the sooner the better! Delicacy would prompt me to give Belvawney a reasonable notice of the impending loss of his income, but should I, for such a mere selfish reason as that, rob my child of one hour of the happiness that you are about to confer upon her? No! Duty to my child is paramount! _Ch._ On one condition, however, I must insist. This must be kept from Belvawney’s knowledge. You know the strange, mysterious influence that his dreadful eyes exercise over me. _Sym._ I have remarked it with astonishment. _Ch._ They are much inflamed just now, and he has to wear green spectacles. While this lasts I am a free agent, but under treatment they may recover. In that case, if he knew that I contemplated matrimony, he would use them to prevent my doing so--and I cannot resist them--I cannot resist them! Therefore, I say, until I am safely and securely tied up, Belvawney must know nothing about it. _Sym._ Trust me, Cheviot, he shall know nothing about it from _me_. (_Aside._) A thousand a year! I have endeavoured, but in vain, to woo Fortune for fifty-six years, but she smiles upon me at last!--she smiles upon me at last! [_Exit SYMPERSON into cottage._ _Ch._ At length my hopes are to be crowned! Oh, my own--my own--the hope of my heart--my love--my life! _Enter BELVAWNEY, who has overheard these words._ _Bel._ Cheviot! Whom are you apostrophizing in those terms? You’ve been at it again, I see! _Ch._ Belvawney, that apostrophe was private; I decline to admit you to my confidence. _Bel._ Cheviot, what is the reason of this strange tone of defiance? A week ago I had but to express a wish, to have it obeyed as a matter of course. _Ch._ Belvawney, it may not be denied that there was a time when, owing to the remarkable influence exercised over me by your extraordinary eyes, you could do with me as you would. It would be affectation to deny it; your eyes withered my will; they paralyzed my volition. They were strange and lurid eyes, and I bowed to them. Those eyes were my Fate--my Destiny--my unerring Must--my inevitable Shall. That time has gone--for ever! _Bel._ Alas for the days that are past and the good that came and went with them! _Ch._ Weep for them if you will. I cannot weep with you, for I loved them not. But, as you say, they are past. The light that lit up those eyes is extinct--their fire has died out--their soul has fled. They are no longer eyes, they are poached eggs. I have not yet sunk so low as to be the slave of two poached eggs. _Bel._ Have mercy. If any girl has succeeded in enslaving you--and I know how easily you are enslaved--dismiss her from your thoughts; have no more to say to her; and I will--yes, I will bless you with my latest breath!