e of my
life, in my arms.

_Mrs. D._ Am not I her mother?

_Mr. D._ Forgive me. What would life be to me, without you? forgive me
[takes her hand and kisses it]----Now I will seek your fugitive lover:
God grant I may find him worthy of my Augusta! [Exit Drave.

_Mrs. D._ I wish, Augusta, your future husband may have the heart of
your father. He is, indeed, sometimes passionate; and in every family,
differences will arise; but they have always ended in rendering us more
attached to each other.

Enter PHILIP BROOK.

_Philip._ Madam--

_Mrs. D._ Mr. Brook--we----pardon me--why should I deny it?--we were
engaged in a conversation--which----

_Philip._ Which I interrupted? I will, therefore, with your permission,
take my leave.

_Mrs. D._ Stay, Sir!--We are, indeed, unable to continue--my heart is
too full----

_Philip._ Have you had any disappointment, any sorrows I dare not
partake?

_Mrs. D._ Neither, Sir.

_Philip._ But you have wept. I will stay: every mourner has a claim
upon me; and when I see your tears, Augusta----

_Augusta._ Mr. Brook, the tears you see are tears of joy, shed by a
happy daughter, for the tenderness of a father.

_Philip._ Tears of joy? It is long, my dear Madam, since I have been
witness to such. Peace be on him for whom they flow! He will never want
an epitaph.

_Mrs. D._ Do not mention that: you keep us in our melancholy train of
thinking.

_Philip._ Melancholy? I am always cheerful in your company. But Miss
Augusta then had a cloud over her eyes.

_Augusta._ Do _you_ reproach me _that_?

_Philip._ I do, and justly. All who are acquainted with you, love and
esteem you. You are young and amiable; why then mourn?

_Mrs. D._ Pardon me, Sir, if I repeat my daughter's words; you should
be the last to utter such a reproach.

_Philip._ Why so?

_Mrs. D._ Can you ask?

_Philip._ Yes, Madam; for I cannot believe that you have the same
opinion of my character, that is generally entertained.

_Mrs. D._ Mr. Brook!

_Philip._ You make no answer. Your opinion is either too favourable, or
the contrary.

_Mrs. D._ Be assured, we esteem you as a man.

_Philip._ I wished not for a polite turn, but for the true judgment of
your heart.

_Mrs. D._ [at a loss]. If, perhaps, our ideas may be in some respects
different----

_Philip._ Well?

_Mrs. D._ But, my dear Sir! we have just been conversing on a subject
so opposite to this! and this moment----