miſtakes, which we had all better forget for our own ſakes; and the beſt way to forget them is to forgive the cauſe of them; which I do from my ſoul.—Poor girl! I ſwore to ſupport her affection with my life and fortune;—'tis a debt of honour, and muſt be paid—you ſwore as much too, Mr. Sterling; but your laws in the city will excuſe you, I ſuppoſe, for you never ſtrike a ballance without errors excepted.
Sterl. I am a father, my Lord; but for the ſake of all other fathers, I think I ought not to forgive her, for fear of encouraging other ſilly girls like herſelf to throw themſelves away without the conſent of their parents.
Lovew. I hope there will be no danger of that, Sir. Young ladies with minds, like my Fanny's, would ſtartle at the very ſhadow of vice; and when they know to what uneaſineſs only an indiſcretion has expoſed her, her example, inſtead, of encouraging, will rather ſerve to deter them.
Mrs. Heidel. Indiſcretion, quoth a! a mighty pretty delicat word to expreſs diſobedience!
Lord Ogle. For my part, I indulge my own paſſions too much to tyrannize over thoſe of other people. Poor ſouls, I pity them. And you muſt forgive them too. Come, come, melt a little of your flint, Mr. Sterling!
Sterl. Why, why—as to that, my Lord—to be ſure he is a relation of yours my Lord—what ſay you, ſiſter Heidelberg?
Mrs. Heidel. The girl's ruined, and I forgive her.
Sterl. Well—ſo do I then.—Nay, no thanks—[to Lovewell and Fanny, who ſeem preparing to ſpeak] there's an end of the matter.
Lord Ogle. But, Lovewell, what makes you dumb all this while?
Lovew. Your kindneſs, my Lord—I can ſcarce believe my own ſenſes—they are all in a tumult of fear, joy, love, expectation, and gratitude; I ever was, and am now more bound in duty to your Lord-
ſhip;
