Miss Cliff. Oh! brother, interpose.
Sir C. My lord, your fortune, family and friends are much obliged to you. Your part is perfect—Mr. Clifford, you are called upon. Miss, in strict propriety, throws the business upon her relations—Come, finish the comedy, join one of her hands to the gallant's, while, with the other, she covers her blushes—and he in rapture delivers the moral. All for Love, or, the World well lost.
[Miss Clifford still appears agitated.
Cliff. Be patient, my Harriet, this is the school for prejudice, and the lesson of its shame is near.
Miss Als. I vow these singular circumstances give me quite a confusion of pleasure. The astonishing good fortune of my late protegee, in finding so impassioned a friendship in her brother's bed-chamber; the captivating eloquence of Lord Gayville, in winding up an eclaircissement which I admire—not for the first time—to-day—and the superlative joy Sir Clement must feel at an union, founded upon the purity of the passions,—are subjects of such different congratulation, that I hardly know where to begin.
Lady E. [Aside] Charming! her insolence will justify what so seldom occurs to one—a severe retort, without a possible sense of compunction.
Miss Als. But in point of fortune—don't imagine, Sir Clement, I would insinuate that the lady is destitute—oh Lord, far from it. Her musical talents are a portion—
Alscrip and Rightly without.
Alscrip. Why, stop a moment—