Jenny Who marries only for love nowadays? That was fine, when you were an adolescent. It's no crime to marry without love, and, even without respect. What's necessary is to marry! You are at an age when your attractions will wither and disappear. The advice I'm giving you, in my zeal, is good. I intend to apply it to myself. To be an old maid is a frightful evil, far worse than all the unhappiness that marriage can cause.
(Enter Hastings and Flavella)
Hastings
Chance has led you here and saved me the trouble of finding you.
Urania Chance has favored us equally, for I have been saved the trouble of hunting you up.
Hastings Always preoccupied? Aren't you yet undeceived? Don't you— Don't you realize that your passion is a chimera and a hallucination? Give it up—believe me. You won't profit by crossing my plans. Show yourself to be wise.
Urania As usual, you babble without rhyme or reason. But, you know what I want to talk about. Here is McNaughten's written promise to marry me; given as a mark of his affection and in his own handwriting.
(Flavella flinches)
Hastings
Where is your credulity leading you, sis?
Urania
He wrote me, I tell you. I've been swindled. Listen, niece—
Flavella
You may be quite sure I'm listening very carefully, auntie.