_Sir Row._ My nephew must not hear of this accursed loss--be secret on that head, I charge you! but in regard to this man's bold assertion, I must consult him instantly--haste and follow me to his house. _O'Ded._ Take me wid ye, sir; for this is such a dirty business, that I'll never be able to go through it unless you show me the way. [_Exeunt._ _End of act I._ ACT II. SCENE I.--_A library at_ Sir Willoughby's. _Enter_ Helen _with_ Servant. _Helen._ Lord Austencourt--true--this is his hour for persecuting me--very well, desire lord Austencourt to come in. (_exit servant_) I won't marry. They all say I shall. Some girls, now, would sit down and sigh, and moan, as if that would mend the matter--that will never suit me! Some indeed would run away with the man they liked better--but then the only man I ever liked well enough to marry--is--I believe, run away from _me_. Well! that won't do!--so I'll e'en laugh it off as well as I can; and though I wont marry his lordship, I'll teaze him as heartily as if I had been his wife these twenty years. _Enter_ lord Austencourt. _Lord A._ Helen! too lovely Helen! once more behold before you to supplicate for your love and pity, the man whom the world calls proud, but whom your beauty alone has humbled. _Helen._ They say, my lord, that pride always has a fall some time or other. I hope the fall of your lordship's hasn't hurt you. _Lord A._ Is it possible that the amiable Helen, so famed for gentleness and goodness, can see the victim of her charms thus dejected stand before her. _Helen._ Certainly not, my lord--so pray sit down. _Lord A._ Will you never be for one moment serious? _Helen._ Oh, yes, my lord! I am never otherwise when _I think_ of your lordship's proposals--but when you are making love and fine speeches to me in person, 'tis with amazing difficulty I can help laughing. _Lord A._ Insolent vixin. (_aside_) I had indulged a hope, madam, that the generosity and disinterested love I have evinced-- _Helen._ Why as to your lordship's generosity in condescending to marry a poor solitary spinster, I am certainly most duly grateful--and no one can possibly doubt your disinterestedness, who knows I am only heiress to 12,000l. a year--a fortune which, as I take it, nearly doubles the whole of your lordship's rent roll! _Lord A._ Really, madam, if I am suspected of any mercenary motives, the liberal settlements which are now ready for your perusal, must immediately remove any such suspicion. _Helen._ Oh, my lord, you certainly mistake me--only as my papa observes, our estates _do join so charmingly to one another_! _Lord A._ Yes:--that circumstance is certainly advantageous to both parties (_exultingly._) _Helen._ Certainly!--only, as mine is the biggest, perhaps yours would be the greatest gainer by the bargain. _Lord A._ My dear madam, a title and the advantages of elevation in rank amply compensate the sacrifice on your part.