Mowbr. (whispering to the Colonel) My dear child, you will oblige me highly if you will give me the opportunity of answering your question.  And was going out.

The Colonel was held in by my Lord.  And I brought in Mowbray.

Col.  Pray, my good Lord, let me attend this officious gentleman, I beseech you do.  I will wait upon your Lordship in three minutes, depend upon it.

Lovel.  Mowbray, is this acting like a friend by me, to suppose me incapable of answering for myself?  And shall a man of honour and bravery, as I know Colonel Morden to be, (rash as perhaps in this visit he has shown himself,) have it to say, that he comes to my Lord M.’s house, in a manner naked as to attendants and friends, and shall not for that reason be rather borne with than insulted?  This moment, my dear Mowbray, leave us.  You have really no concern in this business; and if you are my friend, I desire you’ll ask the Colonel pardon for interfering in it in the manner you have done.

Mowbr.  Well, well, Bob.; thou shalt be arbiter in this matter; I know I have no business in it—­and, Colonel, (holding out his hand,) I leave you to one who knows how to defend his own cause as well as any man in England.

Col. (taking Mowbray’s hand, at Lord M.’s request,) You need not tell me that, Mr. Mowbray.  I have no doubt of Mr. Lovelace’s ability to defend his own cause, were it a cause to be defended.  And let me tell you, Mr. Lovelace, that I am astonished to think that a brave man, and a generous man, as you have appeared to be in two or three instances that you have given in the little knowledge I have of you, should be capable of acting as you have done by the most excellent of her sex.

Lord M. Well, but, gentlemen, now Mr. Mowbray is gone, and you have both shown instances of courage and generosity to boot, let me desire you to lay your heads together amicably, and think whether there be any thing to be done to make all end happily for the lady?

Lovel.  But hold, my Lord, let me say one thing, now Mowbray is gone; and that is, that I think a gentleman ought not to put up tamely one or two severe things that the Colonel has said.

Lord M. What the devil canst thou mean?  I thought all had been over.  Why thou hast nothing to do but to confirm to the Colonel that thou art willing to marry Miss Harlowe, if she will have thee.

Col.  Mr. Lovelace will not scruple to say that, I suppose, notwithstanding all that has passed:  but if you think, Mr. Lovelace, I have said any thing I should not have said, I suppose it is this, that the man who has shown so little of the thing honour, to a defenceless unprotected woman, ought not to stand so nicely upon the empty name of it, with a man who is expostulating with him upon it.  I am sorry to have cause to say this, Mr. Lovelace; but I would, on the same occasion, repeat it to a king upon his throne, and surrounded by all his guards.