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?

FRANKTON. I thought it was within the compass of probability, madam.

LOVEYET. Perhaps it was the lady you wanted to see so much, Frankton;--that
_she_ might be here, was certainly within the compass of probability.

FRANKTON. Had I then known what I have discovered since, I should have
looked for you at some place not very distant from the lady, whose
perfections you have been contemplating with so much admiration; for by
Miss Harriet's account, you