FRO. It is because she is still quite awe-struck, and young girls are always shy at first, and afraid of showing what they feel. HAR. (_to_ FROSINE). You are right. (_To_ MARIANNE) My pretty darling, there is my daughter coming to welcome you. SCENE X.--HARPAGON, ÉLISE, MARIANNE, FROSINE. MAR. I am very late in acquitting myself of the visit I owed you. ELI. You have done what I ought to have done. It was for me to have come and seen you first. HAR. You see what a great girl she is; but ill weeds grow apace. MAR. (_aside to_ FROSINE). Oh, what an unpleasant man! HAR. (_to_ FROSINE). What does my fair one say? FRO. That she thinks you perfect. HAR. You do me too much honour, my adorable darling. MAR. (_aside_). What a dreadful creature! HAR. I really feel too grateful to you for these sentiments. MAR. (_aside_). I can bear it no longer. SCENE XI.--HARPAGON, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, CLÉANTE, VALÈRE, FROSINE, BRINDAVOINE. HAR. Here is my son, who also comes to pay his respects to you. MAR. (_aside to_ FROSINE). Oh, Frosine! what a strange meeting! He is the very one of whom I spoke to you. FRO. (_to_ MARIANNE). Well, that is extraordinary. HAR. You are surprised to see that my children can be so old; but I shall soon get rid of both of them. CLE. (_to_ MARIANNE). Madam, to tell you the truth, I little expected such an event; and my father surprised me not a little when he told me to-day of the decision he had come to. MAR. I can say the same thing. It is an unexpected meeting; and I certainly was far from being prepared for such an event. CLE. Madam, my father cannot make a better choice, and it is a great joy to me to have the honour of welcoming you here. At the same time, I cannot say that I should rejoice if it were your intention to become my stepmother. I must confess that I should find it difficult to pay you the compliment; and it is a title, forgive me, that I cannot wish you to have. To some this speech would seem coarse, but I feel that you understand it. This marriage, Madam, is altogether repugnant to me. You are not ignorant, now that you know who I am, how opposed it is to all my own interests, and with my father's permission I hope you will allow me to say that, if things depended on me, it would never take place. HAR. (_aside_). What a very impertinent speech to make; and what a confession to make to her! MAR. And as my answer, I must tell you that things are much the same with me, and that, if you have any repugnance in seeing me your stepmother, I shall have no less in seeing you my stepson. Do not believe, I beg of you, that it is of my own will that this trouble has come upon you. I should be deeply grieved to cause you the least sorrow, and unless I am forced to it by a power I must obey, I give you my word that, I will never consent to a marriage which is so painful to you.