dy, (said he
to _Diana_) _Lucretia_ then kneel'd for his Blessing. Very well, very
well, (cry'd he hastily) God bless you! Where's your Brother? Ha!
Where's your Brother? I know not, Sir, (she answer'd) I have not seen
him since I have been here. No, (said he) not since you have been in
this Parlour last, you mean. I mean, Sir, (she return'd) upon my Hopes
of yours and Heaven's Blessing, I have not seen him since I saw you,
Sir, within a Mile of our own House. Ha! _Lucretia_, Ha! (cry'd the old
Infidel) have a Care you pull not mine and Heaven's Curse on your Head!
Believe me, Sir, (said _Diana_) to my Knowledge, she has not. Why, Lady,
(ask'd the passionate Knight) are you so curious and fond of him your
self, that you will allow no Body else the Sight of him? Not so much as
his own Sister? I don't understand you, Sir, (she reply'd) for, by my
Hopes of Heaven, I have not seen him neither since that Day I left you.
Hey! pass and repass, (cry'd the old suspicious Father) _presto_, be
gone!--This is all Conjuration. 'Tis diabolical, dealing with the Devil!
In Lies, I mean, on one Side or other; for he told me to my Teeth, at
least, he said in my Hearing, on the Bowling-Green, but two Nights
since, that he hop'd to see your Ladyship (for I suppose you are his
Mistress) that Night e're 'twas dark: Upon which I gave him only a kind
and fatherly Memorandum of his Duty, and he immediately left the Company
and me, who have not set Eye on him, nor heard one Syllable of him
since.--Now, judge you, Lady, if I have not Reason to conclude that he
has been and is above still! No, (said the Aunt) you have no Reason to
conclude so, when they both have told you solemnly the contrary; and
when I can add, that I will take a formal Oath, if requir'd, that he has
not been in this House since my Cousin _Lewis_ went to travel, nor
before, to the best of my Memory; and I am confident, neither my Cousin
_Diana_, nor the Lady your Daughter, have seen him since they left him
with you, Sir--I wish, indeed, my dear Cousin _Lewis_ had not seen him
since. How! What's that you say, good Lady? (ask'd the Knight) Is Mr.
_Lewis Constance_ then in _England_? And do you think that he has seen
him so lately? for your Discourse seems to imply as much. Sir _Henry_,
(reply'd the Aunt) you are very big with Questions, but I will endeavour
to satisfy you in all of 'em.--My Cousin _Lewis Constance_ is in
_England_; nay, more, he is now in his Chamber a-Bed, and dan