Page:Inchbald - Lovers vows.djvu/22

10 I will, I will. But—my tongue is locked with remore and hame. You mut not look at me.

Not look at you! Cured be that on who could find his mother guilty, although the world hould call her o.

Then liten to me, and take notice of that village, [pointing] of that catle, and of that church. In that village I was born—in that church I was baptied. My parents were poor, but reputable farmers.—The lady of that catle and etate requeted them to let me live with her, and he would provide for me through life. They reigned me; and at the age of fourteen I went to my patrones. She took pleaure to intruct me in all kinds of female literature and accomplihments, and three happy years had paed under her protection, when her only on, who was an officer in the Saxon ervice, obtained permiion to come home. I had never een him before—he was a handome young man—in my eyes a prodigy; for he talked of love, and promied me marriage. He was the firt man who had ever poken to me on uch a ubject.—His flattery made me vain, and his repeated vows——Don’t look at me, dear Frederick!—I can ay no more. [Frederick with his eyes cat down, takes her hand, and puts it to his heart.] Oh! oh! my on! I was intoxicated by the fervent carees of a young, inexperienced, capricious, man, and did not recover from the delirium till it was too late.

Go on, Let me knew more of my father.

When the time drew near that I could no longer con-