VAN ROUGH. I am glad I heard of those bills; though it's plaguy unlucky; I hoped to see Mary married before I died. MANLY. Will you permit a gentleman, sir, to offer himself as a suitor to your daughter? Though a stranger to you, he is not altogether so to her, or unknown in the city. You may find a son-in-law of more fortune, but you can never meet with one who is richer in love for her, or respect for you. VAN ROUGH. Why, Mary, you have not let this gentleman make love to you without my leave? MANLY. I did not say, sir-- MARIA. Say, sir!--I--the gentleman, to be sure, met me accidentally. VAN ROUGH. Ha, ha, ha! Mark me, Mary; young folks think old folks to be fools; but old folks know young folks to be fools. Why, I knew all about this affair:--This was only a cunning way I had to bring it about. Hark ye! I was in the closet when you and he were at our house. [_Turns to the company._] I heard that little baggage say she loved her old father, and would die to make him happy! Oh! how I loved the little baggage!--And you talked very prudently, young man. I have inquired into your character, and find you to be a man of punctuality and mind the main chance. And so, as you love Mary, and Mary loves you, shall have my consent immediately to be married. I'll settle my fortune on you, and go and live with you the remainder of my life. MANLY. Sir, I hope-- VAN ROUGH. Come, come, no fine speeches; mind the main chance, young man, and you and I shall always agree. LETITIA. I sincerely wish you joy [_Advancing to MARIA._]; and hope your pardon for my conduct. MARIA. I thank you for your congratulations, and hope we shall at once forget the wretch who has given us so much disquiet, and the trouble that he has occasioned. CHARLOTTE. And I, my dear Maria,--how shall I look up to you for forgiveness? I, who, in the practice of the meanest arts, have violated the most sacred rights of friendship? I can never forgive myself, or hope charity from the world; but, I confess, I have much to hope from such a brother; and I am happy that I may soon say, such a sister. MARIA. My dear, you distress me; you have all my love. MANLY. And mine. CHARLOTTE. If repentance can entitle me to forgiveness, I have already much merit; for I despise the littleness of my past conduct. I now find that the heart of any worthy man cannot be gained by invidious attacks upon the rights and characters of others;--by countenancing the addresses of a thousand;--or that the finest assemblage of features, the greatest taste in dress, the genteelest address, or the most brilliant wit, cannot eventually secure a coquette from contempt and ridicule. MANLY. And I have learned that probity, virtue, honour, though they should not have received the polish of Europe, will secure to an honest American the good graces of his fair countrywomen, and, I hope, the applause of THE PUBLIC. _The End._ FOOTNOTES: