Lovew. My love!—How's this?—In tears?—In...

Lovew. My love!—How's this?—In tears?—Indeed this is too much. You promiſed me to ſupport your ſpirits, and to wait the determination of our fortune with patience.—For my ſake, for your own, be comforted! Why will you ſtudy to add to our uneaſineſs and perplexity?

Fanny. Oh, Mr. Lovewell! The indelicacy of a ſecret marriage grows every day more and more ſhocking to me. I walk about the houſe like a guilty wretch: I imagine myſelf the object of the ſuſpicion of the whole family; and am under the perpetual terrors of a ſhameful detection.

Lovew. Indeed, indeed, you are to blame. The amiable delicacy of your temper, and your quick ſenſibility, only ſerve to make you unhappy.—To clear up this affair properly to Mr. Sterling, is the continual employment of my thoughts. Every thing now is in a fair train. It begins to grow ripe for a diſcovery; and I have no doubt of its concluding to the ſatisfaction of ourſelves, of your father, and the whole family.

Fanny. End how it will, I am reſolved it ſhall end ſoon—very ſoon.—I wou'd not live another week in this agony of mind to be miſtreſs of the univerſe.

Lovew. Do not be too violent neither. Do not let us diſturb the joy of your ſiſter's marriage with the tumult this matter may occaſion!—I have brought letters from Lord Ogleby and Sir John Melvil to Mr. Sterling.—They will be here this evening—and, I dare ſay, within this hour.

Fanny. I am ſorry for it.

Lovew. Why ſo?

Fanny. No matter—Only let us diſcloſe our marriage immediately!

Lovew. As ſoon as poſſible.

Fanny. But directly.

Lovew. In a few days, you may depend on it.

Fanny. To night—or to-morrow morning.

Lovew. That, I fear, will be impracticable.

Fanny. Nay, but you muſt.

Lovew. Muſt! why?

Fanny. Indeed, you muſt.—I have the moſt alarming reaſons for it.

Lovew. Alarming indeed! for they alarm me, even before I am acquainted with them—What are they?

Fanny. I cannot tell you.

Lovew. Not tell me?

Fanny. Not at preſent. When all is ſettled, you ſhall be acquainted with every thing.

Lovew. Sorry they are coming!—Muſt be diſcovered!—What can this mean!—Is it poſſible you can have any reaſons that need be concealed from me?

Fanny. Do not diſturb yourſelf with conjectures—but reſt aſſured, that though you are unable to divine the cauſe, the conſequence of a diſcovery, be it what it will, cannot be attended with half the miſeries of the preſent interval.

Lovew. You put me upon the rack.—I wou'd do any thing to make you eaſy.—But you know your father's temper.—Money (you will excuſe my frankneſs) is the ſpring of all his actions, which nothing but the idea of acquiring nobility or magnificence can ever make him forego—and theſe he thinks his money will purchaſe.—You know too your aunt's, Mrs. Heidelberg's, notions of the ſplendor of high life, her contempt for every thing that does not reliſh of what ſhe calls Quality, and that from the vaſt fortune in her hands, by her late huſband, ſhe abſolutely governs Mr. Sterling and the whole family: now, if they ſhould come to the knowledge of this affair too abruptly, they might, perhaps, be incenſed beyond all hopes of reconciliation.

Fanny. But if they are made acquainted with it otherwiſe than by ourſelves, it will be ten times worſe: and a diſcovery grows every day more probable. The whole family have long ſuſpected our affection. We are alſo in the power of a fooliſh maid-ſervant; and if we may even depend on her fidelity, we cannot anſwer for her diſcretion.—Diſcover it therefore immediately, leſt ſome accident ſhould bring it to light, and involve us in additional diſgrace.

Lovew. Well—well—I meant to diſcover it ſoon, but would not do it too precipitately.—I have more than once ſounded Mr. Sterling about it, and will attempt him more ſeriouſly the next opportunity. But my principal hopes are theſe.—My relationſhip to Lord Ogleby, and his having placed me with your father, have been, you know, the firſt links in the chain of this connection between the two families; in conſequence of which, I am at preſent in high favour with all parties: while they all remain thus well-affected to me, I propoſe to lay our caſe before the old Lord; and if I can prevail on him to mediate in this affair, I make no doubt but he will be able to appeaſe your father; and, being a lord and a man of quality, I am ſure he may bring Mrs. Heidelberg into good-humour at any time.—Let me beg you, therefore, to have but a little patience, as, you ſee, we are upon the very eve of a diſcovery, that muſt probably be to our advantage.

Fanny. Manage it your own way. I am perſuaded.

Lovew. But in the mean time make yourſelf eaſy.

Fanny. As eaſy as I can, I will.—We had better not remain together any longer at preſent.—Think of this buſineſs, and let me know how you proceed.

Lovew. Depend on my care! But, pray, be chearful.

Fanny. I will.

The Clandestine Marriage play

The Clandestine Marriage 2001 film