HARRIET. I am now ashamed of my childish suspicions; but I should not have been so credulous, had it not been for an affection, which rendered my better judgment blind to the fallacy, and made me more apprehensive of your inconstancy, than satisfied of your innocence; and this disposed me to misinterpret every thing you said. LOVEYET. And your apparent indifference, in consequence of that misinterpretation, excited similar suspicions in me; and thus, mutual distrust produced mutual misapprehension. HARRIET. But you have not told me the particulars of your interview with old Mr. Loveyet. LOVEYET. Were you to hear those particulars, they would only afford you pain;--'tis sufficient for me to tell you, he has turned me out of his house, only because I told him, I was a friend to the new Constitution, forsooth. HARRIET. He is a strange character:--when I call'd on my father, I was alarmed to find them at high words;--and he abus'd _me_ most unmercifully. LOVEYET. He did? 'Tis well for him he has call'd himself my father;--but if my Harriet consents, I will immediately put myself in a situation that will justify my preventing his future ill usage:--Fortune has enabled me to act independent either of his frown or his favour;--I have taken such measures, in consequence of his base usage, as will guard us against the effects of the one, without obliging us to cringe for the other. HARRIET. I am happy to hear it; but affluence is not my object, nor poverty my dread; and I am happy I can convince you how little I desire an alliance for interest, by now tendering you the whole of my trifling fortune, in case your father should deprive you of yours. LOVEYET. Charming Harriet! Miracle of disinterested love! Thus let me evince my gratitude. [_Kneels, and kisses her hand._ HARRIET. Pray do not worship me, Mr. Loveyet; I am less generous than you imagine;--self-love is at the bottom of this noble declaration; for if I did not suppose you capable of making me happier than any other man, I would keep both my fortune and my person, to myself. LOVEYET. Better and better!--Your explanation gives me new reason to adore such uncommon worth, and makes me blest beyond measure! By heaven, New-York does not contain such a fortunate fellow! _Enter FRANKTON._ HARRIET. [_Seeing FRANKTON._]--Ha, ha. You could not say more, if you were addressing my friend Maria. LOVEYET. Talk not of your friend Maria,-- HARRIET. You talked enough of her perfections just now, for both of us. FRANKTON. He did, eigh? [_Aside._ LOVEYET. I spoke of her as I thought she deserv'd; she is a lovely creature, but--but [_Sees FRANKTON._]--Frankton! FRANKTON. I hope Miss Trueman will excuse my coming in so abruptly:--I have been looking for Mr. Loveyet, all over the city; at last I concluded, I might find him here. HARRIET. Really sir; and pray, what made you conclude so?