_Prompt._ No, my lord, time is too precious--I'll be at her last lodgings, and afterwards half the town over before your lordship will travel from her forehead to her chin. _Lord G._ Away then, my good fellow. He cannot mistake her, for when she was formed, nature broke the mould. [_Exit PROMPT._ _Blandish._ Now for the blood of me, cannot I call that fellow back; it is absolute infatuation: Ah! I see how this will end. _Lord G._ What are your apprehensions? _Blandish._ That my ferret yonder will do his part completely; that I shall set all your uncle's doctrine at nought, and thus lend myself to this wild intrigue, till the girl is put into your arms. _Lord G._ Propitious be the thought, my best friend--my uncle's doctrine! but advise me, how shall I keep my secret from him for the present? 'Faith, it is not very easy; Sir Clement is suspicion personified: his eye probes one's very thought. _Blandish._ Your best chance would be to double your assiduities to Miss Alscrip. But then dissimulation is so mean a vice.-- _Lord G._ It is so indeed, and if I give into it for a moment, it is upon the determination of never being her husband. I may despise and offend a woman; but disgust would be no excuse for betraying her. Adieu, Blandish; if you see Prompt first, I trust to you for the quickest communication of intelligence. _Blandish._ I am afraid you may--I cannot resist you. [_Exit LORD GAYVILLE._]--Ah! wrong--wrong--wrong; I hope that exclamation is not lost. A blind compliance with a young man's passions is a poor plot upon his affections. [_Exit._ SCENE III. _MRS. SAGELY's House_. _Enter MRS. SAGELY and MISS ALTON._ _Mrs. Sagely._ Indeed, Miss Alton, (since you are resolved to continue that name) you may bless yourself for finding me out in this wilderness.--Wilderness! this town is ten times more dangerous to youth and innocence: every man you meet is a wolf. _Miss Alton._ Dear madam, I see you dwell upon my indiscretion in flying to London; but remember the safeguard I expected to find here. How cruel was the disappointment! how dangerous have been the consequences! I thought the chance happy that threw a retired lodging in my way: I was upon my guard against the other sex, but for my own to be treacherous to an unfortunate--could I expect it? _Mrs. Sagely._ Suspect every body, if you would be safe--but most of all suspect yourself. Ah, my pretty truant--the heart, that is so violent in its aversions, is in sad danger of being the same in its affections, depend upon it. _Miss Alton._ Let them spring from a just esteem, and you will absolve me: my aversion was to the character of the wretch I was threatened with--can you reprove me?