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Ag. Aye, that was natural enough. (Eagerly.) And what happened then?

Leo. (offended.) What happened then! (drawing herself up proudly.) Nothing happened then, but subduing the foolish fancy of a girl, which was afterwards amply repaid by the self-approbation and dignity of a woman.

Ag. Pardon me, Madam; I ought to have supposed all this. But you have been long a widow, and Osterloo is still unmarried; what prevented you when free?

Leo. I was ignorant what the real state of his sentiments had been in regard to me. But had this been otherwise; received, as I was, into the family of my Lord, the undowried daughter of a petty nobleman; and left as I now am, by his confiding love, the sole guardian of his children and their fortunes; I could never think of supporting a second lord on the wealth entrusted to me by the first, to the injury of his children. As nothing, therefore, has ever happened in consequence of this weakness of my youth, nothing ever shall.

Ag. This is noble.

Leo. It is right.But here comes the father Confessor.

You are welcome, good Father! yet I am almost ashamed to see you for our sick person has become suddenly well again, and is now in a deep sleep. I fear I shall appear to you capricious