some foundation;--one says he is married to Maria; another says,
he is discovered to be illegitimate; a third reports, he was found in
company with a woman of ill fame; and to conclude the catalogue of evil
tidings, a fourth says, that old Mr. Loveyet is going to disinherit him, in
consequence of his having made him a grandfather, since his arrival.--But
here he comes.

_Enter YOUNG LOVEYET._

LOVEYET. She seems very thoughtful;--perhaps, she too has been unfortunate
in her suit to her father;--or, what is far worse, perhaps,--but I will not
cherish such gloomy apprehensions.--Your servant, madam.

HARRIET. Good day, Mr. Loveyet.--"Your servant, madam!"--What a stoical
salutation! I fear there is too much truth in what I have heard.
[_Aside._

LOVEYET. You seem unusually serious, Miss Harriet: I hope Mr. Trueman has
not proved relentless as you expected.

HARRIET. No sir; it gives me pleasure to acquaint you, my father was all
kindness and forgiveness.

LOVEYET. I wish I could say so of mine;--he indeed was kind and forgiving
too at first; but no sooner had I begun to anticipate approaching
happiness, than one luckless circumstance deprived me of all that love and
hope had inspired.

HARRIET. An unlucky circumstance, indeed; but would the disappointment
really be so great, if you were obliged to give up the thought of an
alliance with me?

LOVEYET. How, Miss Harriet! Give up the thought of having you!--By
heaven, it must be so!--Yes, the beau would never have presumed to say
so much if it were not so;--and Frankton's ambiguous account of them
both, confirms the suspicion;--and then the extravagant encomiums he
bestowed on her yesterday.--Confusion! my fears were just, though he
ridicul'd me for exposing them.--But she must not see my anxiety.
[_Aside._

HARRIET. If my doubts are well founded, he must be an adept in the art of
dissimulation. I will try him a little farther.--[_Aside._] What think you,
Mr. Loveyet, of our New-York beauties? Have not the superior charms of so
many fine women, been able to overcome such old-fashioned notions as
constancy and priority of affection?

LOVEYET. I have beheld their beauty with equal pleasure and astonishment;
and the understanding, the affability, and vivacity, by which strangers,
with so much propriety, characterize my fair countrywomen, give the