_Helen._ Why, as to a title, my lord (as Mr. O'Dedimus, your attorney, observes) there's no title in my mind better than a good title to a fine estate--and I see plainly, that although your lordship is a peer of the realm--you think this title of mine no mean companion for your own. _Lord A._ Nay, madam--believe me--I protest--I assure you--solemnly, that those considerations have very little--indeed _no_ influence _at all_ with me. _Helen._ Oh, no!--only it is natural that you should feel (as papa again observes) that the _contiguity_ of these estates seem to _invite_ a union by a marriage between us. _Lord A._ And if you admit that fact, why do you decline the invitation? _Helen._ Why, one doesn't accept _every_ invitation that's offered, you know--one sometimes has very disagreeable ones; and then one presents compliments, and is extremely sorry that a prior engagement obliges us to decline the honour. _Lord A._ (_aside_) Confound the satirical huzzy--But should not the wishes of your parents have some weight in the scale? _Helen._ Why, so they have; _their_ wishes are in one scale, and _mine_ are in the other; do all I can, I can't make mine weigh most, and so the beam remains balanced. _Lord A._ I should be sorry to make theirs preponderate, by calling in their authority as auxiliaries to their wishes. _Helen._ Authority!--Ho! what, you think to marry me by force! do ye my lord? _Lord A._ _They_ are resolute, and if _you_ continue obstinate-- _Helen._ I dare say your lordship's education hasn't precluded your knowledge of a very true, though _rather_ vulgar proverb, "one man may lead a horse to the water, but twenty can't make him drink." _Lord A._ The allusion may be classical, madam, though certainly it is not very elegant, nor has it even the advantage of being applicable to the point in question. However I do not despair to see this resolution changed. In the mean time, I did not think it in your nature to treat any man who loves you with cruelty and scorn. _Helen._ Then why don't you desist, my lord? If you'd take an answer, you had a civil one: but if you will follow and teaze one, like a sturdy beggar in the street, you must expect at last a reproof for your impertinence. _Lord A._ Yet even in their case perseverance often obtains what was denied to poverty. _Helen._ Yes, possibly, from the feeble or the vain; but genuine Charity, and her sister, Love, act only from their own generous impulse, and scorn intimidation. _Enter_ Tiffany. _Tiffany._ Are you alone, madam? _Helen._ No; I was only wishing to be so. _Tiff._ A young woman is without, inquiring for sir Willoughby, ma'am; I thought he had been here. _Helen._ Do you know her? _Tiff._ Yes, ma'am; 'tis Fanny, the daughter of the odd man that lives on the common. _Helen._ I'll see her myself--desire her to walk up. [_Exit Tiffany._ _Lord A._ (_seems uneasy_) Indeed! what brings her here?