Edmund kneeled to the Baron; he took
his hand and pressed it to his lips.
"Best of men! of parents! of patrons!" said he, "I will ever be your
son in filial affection, whether I have the honour to be legally so or
not; not one of your own children can feel a stronger sense of love and
duty."
"Tell me," said the Baron, "do you love my daughter?"
"I do, my lord, with the most ardent affection; I never loved any woman
but her; and, if I am so unfortunate as to be refused her, I will not
marry at all. Oh, my Lord, reject not my honest suit! Your alliance
will give me consequence with myself, it will excite me to act worthy
of the station to which I am exalted; if you refuse me, I shall seem an
abject wretch, disdained
by those whom my heart claims relation to; your family are the whole
world to me. Give me your lovely daughter! give me also your son, my
beloved William; and let me share with them the fortune Providence
bestows upon me. But what is title or fortune, if I am deprived of the
society of those I love?"
"Edmund," said the Baron, "you have a noble friend; but you have a
stronger in my heart, which I think was implanted there by Heaven to
aid its own purposes. I feel a variety of emotions of different kinds,
and am afraid to trust my own heart with you. But answer me a question:
Are you
assured of my daughter's consent? have you solicited her favour? have
you gained her affections?"
"Never, my lord.
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