_Charles._ I gloried even in that humble posture, while you taught me to believe you loved me. _Helen._ 'Tis true, my heart was once your own, but I never can, nor ought to forgive you--for thinking me capable of being unfaithful to you. _Charles._ Dearest dear Helen! and has your anger then no other cause? surely you could not blame a resentment which was the offspring of my fond affection? _Helen._ No! to be sure I couldn't, who could!--but what should I not have to dread from the violence of your temper, if I consented--to run away with you? _Charles._ Run away with me!--no!--zounds I've a chaise in waiting-- _Helen._ Have you?--then pray let it wait,--no! no! Charles--though I haven't scrupled to own an affection for you, I have too much respect for the world's opinion,--let us wait with patience,--time may rectify that impetuosity of character, which is now, I own, my dread; think of it, Charles, and beware; for affection is a frail flower, reared by the hand of gentleness, and perishes as surely by the shocks of violence as by the more gradual poison of neglect. _Charles._ Dearest Helen! I will cherish it in my heart--'tis a _rough_ soil I own, but 'tis a _warm_ one; and when the hand of delicacy shall have cultivated this flower that is rooted there, the blossom shall be everlasting love! _Helen._ Ah you men!--you men! but--I think I may be induced to try you.--Meantime, accept my hand, dear Charles, as a pledge of my heart, and as the assurance that it shall one day be your own indeed (_he kisses her hand._) There you needn't eat it--there!--now make your escape, and farewell till we meet again.--(_They are going out severally_) _Enter_ sir Rowland _and_ sir Willoughby, _at opposite sides._ _Charles._ Zounds! my father! _Helen._ Gad-a-mercy! my papa! _Sir R._ So, sir! you are here again I find! _Sir W._ So! so! Madam! together again, hey? sir Rowland, your servant. _Sir R._ I need not tell you, sir Willoughby, that this undutiful boy's conduct does not meet with my sanction. _Char._ No! sir Willoughby--I am sorry to say my conduct seldom meets with my father's sanction. _Sir W._ Why look ye, sir Rowland, there are certain things that we _do_ like, and certain things that we do _not_ like--now sir, to cut the matter short, I do like my daughter to marry, but I do not like either your son or your nephew for her husband. _Sir R._ This is a very sudden _change_, sir Willoughby-- _Sir W._ Yes, sir Rowland, I have made two or three sudden changes to day!--I've changed my resolution--I feel changed myself--for I've changed characters with my wife, and with your leave I mean to change my son-in-law. _Sir R._ Of course, sir, you will give me a proper explanation of the last of these changes.