HARRIET. If you have come here with a design to use me ill, sir, I beg you will tell me so, and then I shall act accordingly. LOVEYET. Your actions accord very illy with your _professions_, I think, madam. HARRIET. _Your_ duplicity, sir, both in word and action, justifies my retorting that ungenerous accusation. LOVEYET. I entreat you to believe me, Miss Harriet, when I say, I am unconscious of having done anything I ought to be ashamed of, since my arrival: I am so confident of this, that the circulation of a malicious rumour, however dishonourable to me, would give me little disquiet, did I not reflect, that it is the object of Harriet's credulity;--a reflection, that is the source of real unhappiness to me:--be kind then, Harriet, and tell me wherein I am guilty;--obscurity in a matter so interesting, gives more torture to the mind, than the most unwelcome truth. HARRIET. He must be sincere. [_Aside._]--Your request shall be comply'd with, sir.--The principal offence you are charged with, is your having been smitten by the lady, on whom you have bestowed such liberal commendation;--be that as it may, I heard Mr. Loveyet talk of such a match:--I believe it will require a more able advocate than yourself, to defend _this_ cause. LOVEYET. Suppose I assure you, on the sacred honour of a gentleman, that what you have heard is false;--suppose I add the more important sanction of an oath, to seal the truth. HARRIET. I will save you that trouble:--you have an advocate _here_, which has already gained your cause. LOVEYET. Oh, Harriet, you are too good!--Conscious as I am of the rectitude of my conduct, as it respects my Harriet;--sure as I am of not deserving your displeasure, I still feel myself unworthy of such matchless goodness. HARRIET. You say too much; and compel me to tell you that you merit my highest esteem. LOVEYET. Esteem! What a cold epithet!--And am not I entitled to something more than _esteem_? HARRIET. Excuse the poverty of the expression; and be assured, my heart dictated a more exalted word;--let this confession atone for the fault. LOVEYET. And yet I would fain attract your esteem too; for, I have heard connoisseurs in the science of Love say, it is possible to _love_ an object, and that to distraction, without having a particle of _esteem_ for it. HARRIET. I have assured you that _my_ esteem is at least equalled by a more passionate affection:--but how strangely you talk!--First you acknowledge yourself unworthy of my favour;--then you are alarmed that I should only esteem you; and when I talk of a passion, superior to mere _Platonic_ love, you are afraid, on the other hand, it is a blind, enthusiastic impulse, not founded on _esteem_.--How inconsistent are lovers! LOVEYET. Your reasoning, like your person, surprises, charms and subdues:--I will be more consistent;--but our contention is only for pre-eminence in love;--delightful emulation! Agreeable inconsistency!