The Conscious Lovers

stay at Toulon. Humphry I remember it; he was apprehensive some woman had laid hold of you. Bevil Jr. His fears were just; for there I first saw this lady. She is of English birth: her father’s name was Danvers⁠—a younger brother of an ancient family, and originally an eminent merchant of Bristol, who, upon repeated misfortunes, was reduced to go privately to the Indies. In this retreat, Providence again grew favourable to his industry, and, in six years’ time, restored him to his former fortunes. On this he sent directions over that his wife and little family should follow him to the Indies. His wife, impatient to obey such welcome orders, would not wait the leisure of a convoy, but took the first occasion of a single ship, and, with her husband’s sister only, and this daughter, then scarce seven years old, undertook the fatal voyage⁠—for here, poor creature, she lost her liberty and life. She and her family, with all they had, were, unfortunately, taken by a privateer from Toulon. Being thus made a prisoner, though as such not ill-treated, yet the fright, the shock, and cruel disappointment, seized with such violence upon her unhealthy frame, she sickened, pined, and died at sea. Humphry Poor soul! O the helpless infant! Bevil Jr. Her sister yet survived, and had the care of her. The captain, too, proved to have humanity, and became a father to her; for having himself married an English woman, and being childless, he brought home into Toulon this her little countrywoman, presenting her, with all her dead mother’s movables of value, to his wife, to be educated as his own adopted daughter. Humphry Fortune here seemed again to smile on her. Bevil Jr. Only to make her frowns more terrible; for, in his height of fortune, this captain, too, her benefactor, unfortunately was killed at sea; and dying intestate, his estate fell wholly to an advocate, his brother, who, coming soon to take possession, there found (among his other riches) this blooming virgin at his mercy. Humphry He durst not, sure, abuse his power? Bevil Jr. No wonder if his pampered blood was fired at the sight of her⁠—in short, he loved; but when all arts and gentle means had failed to move, he offered, too, his menaces in vain, denouncing vengeance on her cruelty, demanding her to account for all her maintenance from her childhood; seized on her little fortune as his own inheritance, and was dragging her by violence to prison, when Providence at the instant interposed, and sent me, by miracle, to relieve her.24 Humphry ’Twas Providence, indeed. But pray, sir, after all this trouble, how came this lady at last to England? Bevil Jr. The disappointed advocate, finding she had so unexpected a support, on cooler thoughts, descended to a composition, which I, without her knowledge, secretly discharged. Humphry That generous concealment made the obligation double. Bevil Jr. Having thus obtained her liberty, I prevailed, not without some difficulty, to see her safe to England; where, no sooner arrived, but my father, jealous of my being imprudently engaged, immediately proposed this other fatal match that hangs upon my quiet. Humphry I find, sir, you are irrecoverably fixed upon this lady. Bevil Jr. As my vital life dwells in my heart⁠—and yet you see what I do to please my father: walk in this pageantry of dress, this splendid covering of sorrow⁠—But, Humphry, you have your lesson. Humphry Now, sir, I have but one material question⁠— Bevil Jr. Ask it freely. Humphry Is it, then, your own passion for this secret lady, or hers for you, that gives you this aversion to the match your father has proposed you? Bevil Jr. I shall appear, Humphry, more romantic in my answer than in all the rest of my story; for though I dote on her to death, and have no little reason to believe she has the same thoughts for me, yet in all my acquaintance and utmost privacies with her, I never once directly told her that I loved. Humphry How was it possible to avoid it? Bevil Jr. My tender obligations to my father have laid so inviolable a restraint upon my conduct that, till I have his consent to speak, I am determined, on that subject, to be dumb forever. Humphry Well, sir, to your praise be it spoken, you are certainly the most unfashionable lover in Great Britain. Enter Tom. Tom Sir, Mr. Myrtle’s at the next door, and, if you are at leisure, will be glad to wait on you. Bevil Jr. Whenever he pleases⁠—hold, Tom! did you receive no answer to my letter? Tom Sir, I was desired to call again; for I was told her mother would not let her be out of her sight; but about an hour hence, Mrs. Lettice said, I should certainly have one. Bevil Jr. Very well. Exit Tom. Humphry Sir, I will take another opportunity. In the meantime, I only think it proper to tell you that, from a secret I know, you may appear to your father as forward as you please, to marry Lucinda without the least hazard of its coming to a conclusion⁠—Sir, your most obedient servant. Bevil Jr. Honest Humphry, continue but my friend in this exigence, and you shall always find me yours. Exit Humphry. —I long to hear how my letter has succeeded with Lucinda⁠—but I think it cannot fail; for, at worst, were it possible she could take it ill, her resentment of my indifference may as probably occasion a delay as her taking it right. Poor Myrtle, what terrors must he be in all this while? Since he knows she is offered to me, and refused to him, there is no conversing or taking any measures with him for his own service.⁠—But I ought to bear with my friend, and use him as one in adversity⁠—

All his disquiets by my own I prove,
The greatest grief’s perplexity in love.

Exit.

Act II

Scene I. Bevil Jr.’s Lodgings.

	Enter Bevil Jr. and Tom.
Tom	Sir,