ne.

_Count._ Good morning, dear sister; how do you do?

_Dor._ Perfectly well. How are you?

_Count._ Never better. Fortunate and happy man! I am to possess a bride
of high birth and merit.

_Dor._ Then you are determined in favour of Eleonora?

_Count._ Ay, sweet sister! She is your relation; you proposed her to me,
and I therefore have reason to give her the preference.

_Dor._ [_Ironically._] Her and her portion of one hundred thousand
crowns, with as much more perhaps at the death of her mother.

_Count._ You will allow, sister, that such conditions are not to be
despised.

_Dor._ True; but you, who are so--

_Count._ I understand you. A man like me, having sacrificed a
considerable sum to obtain a title, should have endeavoured to marry
into an illustrious family. I have thought much, and combated long this
reigning inclination, but I know the prejudices of the old nobility; I
must have paid dearly for the pompous honour of such an alliance.

_Dor._ That is not what I wish to say.

_Count._ I am determined to marry the charming Eleonora.

_Dor._ But if the charming Eleonora should feel no love for you?

_Count._ My dear sister, I do not think myself a person to be despised.

_Dor._ But inclinations are capricious.

_Count._ Has Eleonora told you she cannot love me?

_Dor._ She has not precisely told me, but I have great reason to doubt
it.

_Count._ [_To himself, vexed._] This is a little strange.

_Dor._ Why are you angry? If you take in ill part--

_Count._ No, no; you mistake me. Speak freely and sincerely.

_Dor._ You know the confidence you have placed in me. Having discoursed
together concerning this family, I wrote to Madame Araminta, inviting
her and her daughter to pass a few days at Paris.

_Count._ And they have been a fortnight with you. This I know must give
trouble, and bring expense; and as you have done it for my sake--I--my
duty--my obligations are eternal.

_Dor._ By no means, brother. The expense is trifling, and the
inconvenience small. I love this family, and, beside being related to
my husband, am greatly interested in its behalf. Eleonora is the best
girl on earth, and her mother is no less respectable. A good heart,
economical, and to the most exact economy she unites prudence and
regularity of conduct.

_Count._ Excellent; and so has been the education of her daughter. But
now tell me--

_Dor._ Sincerely, brother, in my opinion, Eleonora loves you neither
muc