be great pain and difficulty for me to explicate to you; but since my lady is so good to permit me to come to her, I do pray you let me avail myself of her kind favour, and then, when I will make my confession to her, you shall find yourself very happy that you have not spoken to your father.

Fred. Go, then, and may you find your happiness where mine was lost!-Oh, Lady Ruby, pardon a distracted mind

Sabina. Be tranquil, my good friend, you shall have no cause to complain of me; and I am persuaded this lady, who has the beauty of an angel, has also the benevolence of one.

Enter, KATE and BILLY BUSTLER hastily.

Kate. My lady, I am your ladyship's most obedient humble servant !-Pray, my lady, excuse this seeming want of manners; if we had had any item of your ladyship's doing us this great honour, things should have been in another sort of fashion to have welcom'd such a visitor.

Billy B. Sister and I had but just stept out.

Kate. Yes, my lady, brother Billy and I had but just stept out to provide something dainty for our charming guest-and a lovely young lady she is, tho' I say it to her face, as any in the kingdom, your ladyship always excepted.

Lady R. No apology to me, my good Mrs. Catherine; your brother knows that my business relates only to some small accounts of Sir Paul Ruby's, and those can be adjusted at any other time as well as the present.

Billy B. They are all ready, my lady; examined, vouch'd, and balanced; with your leave I will bring up the abstract, and pay in the amount.

Lady R. Another time, if you please: 'till then I will trouble you to be my banker; every body knows your punctuality, my good friend.

Billy B. Pretty myself, fair lady I never shall.

correct, pretty correct, I flatter hav'n't lost my credit yet-hope

Lady R. There is a loss however you must be prepared for; I am going to rob you of your amiable guest: you must pardon me if I take Mademoiselle. Rosny with me.

Billy B. Every thing this house contains is so entirely at your ladyship's command, that if you was to take away not only my amiable guest, but sister Kate into the bargain, I must submit and obey.

Kate. La, brother, how you talk! as if such a person as me could be company for her ladyship— but Miss Rosny deserves better entertainment than we can give her; and, to be sure, if your ladyship so wishes, much as we shall feel the loss of her sweet society, yet with Mr. Frederick's consent, we shall resign her.

Sabina. I am very thankful, indeed I am, good madam and good sir, for your politeness; and I am persuaded that the more I had known you, the more and more I should have loved you; but adieu for the present! I will pay you my devoirs as soon as it is in my power.

Kate. The blessing of blessings light upon you, sweet innocent! they must be monsters who could harm you.

Lady R. Come, my dear, are you ready?

Sabina. One word with you, Mr. Frederick.—Ah, my good friend, give me your hand: I shall see you soon, and you shall know all my sad history; then you will pity and excuse me meanwhile I do pray, if you regard my happiness or your own, say not one word to your father on the subject we were speaking of.

Fred. So far I promise you, till the mystery is cleared up.—Lady Ruby, I commit to your protec

tion a tender pledge, which, if I had not kept sacred whilst under guardianship of my honour, I were a wretch too hideous for society. What she has to reveal to you, I know not: if misfortunes, you will pity them; if mistakes, you will pardon them— wrong'd she may be, guilty she cannot be.

Lady R. Oh! Frederick, Frederick! I have much to say to you-many things to explain, and something to impart that will surprise you.-Be cautious in your language to your father. After you have conferr'd, let me see you.

Fred. Is it possible you can wish it? Is there an object so unwelcome, so proscribed as I am?

Lady R. If your heart suggests that question, why do you trust me with a charge so dear to you? And, if you were unwelcome, why did I solicit the trust? Ah! where is your wonted intuition?

Fred. I can make no reply; I'll strive to fortify my heart, and wait upon you.-Shall I attend upon you to your coach?

Lady R. By no means; stay where you are.— Here is my beau.

[Exit, attended by BUSTLER, and followed by SABINA and Mrs. CATHERINE.

Fred. Where am I? What is this obscurity, that gathers like a cloud ready to burst upon me? Sabina meditates to set me free-but why? I cannot penetrate her motives: I have no trace of what I may have divulged in the wanderings of my reason. Perhaps she has discover'd my first love in the person of this lady, and means to make a generous sacrifice of her right in me-I'll not permit it: no! tho' my heart should burst with the recoil of that unconquerable affection, which the sight of my enchantress has revived, I never will submit to be a villain, and abandon my preserver.—David!

Enter DAVID MOWBRAY.

David. Ay, sure enough I am he.-Where's Mademoiselle?

Fred. Gone with Lady Ruby.

David. Is she so? then I caught a glimpse of her for the first time.-Well! I say nothing, every man to his own fancy; but for my part, brother Frederick, if little England cou'd'n't furnish me with a mate to my liking, I wou'd be content to go single for the rest of my days.

Fred. David, we won't talk upon that subject just

now.

David. Very well, then you must keep clear of father, for he will talk of nothing else; yet I think you shou'd speak him quickly, for it's out of chance for you to lie hid in this tattling town much longer.

Fred. I waited only till Sabina was disposed of, and am going to him directly. Will you accompany

me?

David. To be sure I will, if you wish it-But harkye, Frederick, I hope you don't take in ill part what I said to you, only because I thought it a pity an honest Englishman shou'd go out of his own country for a wife; whereas, do you see, if your heart is pledged, why there's an end of the matter. Fred. There let the matter end then.

David. Enough said, leave it there; only if father comes down upon you with a spanking breeze, I wou'd not have him take you at a nonplus.

Fred. A man, who knows his duty, cannot be surprised: I am his son in all lawful service, but where my honour is engaged, friend David, I think you will agree with me that an honest heart ought not to be shaken either by menaces or soothingsso let us boldly set forward, face our fortune, and defy its malice.

David. Come on, my brave fellow to the last

breath of my life I will stand by you; and if father cuts you off with a shilling, and leaves me his estate, the shilling shall be mine, and the estate shall be yours. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

An Apartment in Sir MILES's House.

ROBERT passes the Stage-Mr. WRANGLE follows.

Mr. W. Robin! Robin!-A word in your earRob. I humbly beg your pardon, Mr. Wrangle, I did not see you.

Mr. W. No offence, my good friend, no offence -How are you, honest Robin ?

Rob. Thank you, sir! What are your commands, I pray?

Mr. W. Where's your master? where's Sir Miles? I want a word or two with him in private.

Rob. I'll tell him as much.

[Exit.

Mr. W. Do so, do so! I'm determined it shall come out she threatens to complain of me to her father; and as she always takes care to have the last word, it is but fair that I should have the first.

ROBERT returns.

Rob. I crave your pardon, sir, but I hope you have no bad news about my young mistress.

Mr. W. Why should you suppose it, Robin? Rob. Because I hear she had an accident at the opera door; no bad consequences from the fright, I hope-Oh! here my master comes. [Exit.