_Poly._ Poor thing! Well, don’t weep, my dear; your cares will soon be at an end. Not but that so imprudent a step as a clandestine marriage deserves the severest—(_As she appears affected, he relaxes in the severity of his manner._) Yet you were very young, and that almost excuses you. But how appease his father? _Harriet._ I dread to meet him. _Poly._ And I too, who must bear the responsibility of all this! But how did my Charles contrive to make your acquaintance? I watched him so closely, that— _Harriet._ I believe, sir, he bribed the servants to conceal his absence from home; and whilst you thought he was in his own room, closely engaged in his studies, he used to— _Poly._ The mischievous truant! I’ll trim him for this. I beg pardon; I forgot I was speaking to you of a husband.—Ah! I can imagine by what arts he won your affections. He has often delighted me. He solved some difficult problem in Euclid for you, perhaps—talked Latin to you, eh? or Greek? _Harriet._ Greek, sir! he merely said he loved me. _Poly._ Where could he have picked up that! I never taught it him. But I always said the dear boy was blessed with a natural genius. And so you have taken advantage of his father’s absence, to get married? _Harriet._ No, sir; we have been married these four years. _Poly._ Four years! _Harriet._ Yet have I often lamented my imprudence. His wife, yet not as such acknowledged, and exposed to the evil opinion of the inhabitants of the village, I was at the point of quitting the place, till Charles could openly avow our union. The departure of his father determined him to afford me a temporary refuge here, but his unexpected return has—(_A bell heard._) _Poly._ The supper bell! To avoid suspicion, I must leave you, and join old Mr. Eustace. _Harriet._ Leave me! and Charles not here. _Poly._ Possibly he is detained by his father. What is to be done? You must not be seen here, or—(_After some hesitation, and with a profound sigh_) Ah! there is no other resource. Go into this room; it is mine; when the family shall have retired for the night, I’ll contrive to let you out of the house, and you may remain concealed in the village till we can obtain the sanction of your—your father-in-law. _Harriet._ I will do all you desire, sir. _Poly._ There, be quick; should you be discovered there, it would be my ruin. (_He puts her into the room, and as he is speaking to her through the door, which he holds ajar._) _Enter_ MOLLY. So, here, take the key and lock the door inside. Be cautious; do not open the door to any one but me, my little dear; the signal shall be three taps of the hand. _Molly._ Oh, oh! his little dear! _Poly._ (_Alarmed._) Who’s there? _Molly._ (_Looking slyly at him._) ’Tis I, Mr. Pollypot, and since, for my misbehaviour, you are resolved to send me away, I come to—But what was that I heard you say? Were you saying “good bye” to anybody? _Poly._ No—I—I was talking to myself.