his heart throbbing, his eyes brimful, his looks, pale: you are to blame; you are, indeed, madan. I dare be sworn he has never proved false.

Petin. Oh! Tippet, could I be sure of that! Tip. But you are not sure of the contrary. Why won't you see my lady Restless? See her directly, madam; go to her now, before it is too late; before the old folks, who are putting their heads together, have settled the whole affair. Dear madam, be advised. I hear them coming. They will hurry you into a match, and you'll repent of it. How cruel this is! Here they come. -No, 'tis madam Clarissa.

Enter CLARISSA.

Cla. So, Belinda; you have thrown things into fine confusion. You have involved yourself, and my brother, and Mr Bellmont, and every body, in most terrible difficulties.

Belin. My dear Clarissa, here have been such doings between your brother and me-

Cla. So I ind. I met him as I came hither. You have had fine doings, indeed. I have heard the whole; my brother has told me every thing. Tip. Madain, madam! I hear your father. Sir William Bellmont is with him: they are coming up stairs.

Belin. I am not in a disposition to see them now. Clarissa, suspend your judgment; step with me to my own room, and I will then give you such reasons, as, you will own yourself, sufficiently justify my conduct.

Cla. The reasons must be ingenious, that can make any kind of apology for such behaviour: 1 shall be glad to hear you.

Lelin. Very well, follow me quickly. You will find that my resolution is not so rash as you imagine. [Exit with CIA. Tip. They have got into a rare puzzle! and how they will get out of it, is beyond my dexterity; and so let them manage as well as they can.

Enter BLANDFORD, SIR WILLIAM, and YOUNG BELLMONT.

Bland. Sir William, we have made a good day's work of it: the writings will be ready tomorrow morning. Where is Belinda? I thought she was in this room.

Tip. She is gone into her own room, sir; she is not well.

Sir Wil. She has changed her mind, perhaps : I shall have no faith in this business, till it is all concluded.

Bland. Changed her mind, say you? No, no; I can depend upon her. I'll bring her to you this moment, and you and your son shall hear a declaration of her mind out of her own lips. Tippet, where is Belinda?

Tip. I'll shew you the way, sir. [Exit with BLANDFORD. Sir Wil. Now we shall see what authority you have over your daughter. I have you

promise, George; if she consent, you will be ready to comply with the wishes of your father?

Bel. Sir-you may depend, that is as far as matters are in my power: but you know, as I told you already, the lady has a settled rooted aversion to me.

Sir Wil. Aversion!-she can change her mind, can't she? Women have no settled principle. They like to-day, and dislike to-morrow. Besides, has not her father promised her to you in marriage? If the old gentleman likes you, what have you to do with her aversion?

Bel. To do with it! A great deal, I am afraid. You are not now to learn, that, when a young lady marries against her inclination, billet-doux, assignations, plots, intrigues, and a terrible et cætera of female stratagem, mount into her brain, and the poor husband in the mean time

Sir Wil. Come, lad; don't play the rogue with your father. Did not you promise me, if she made no objection, that there would be no obstacle on your part?

Bel. I promised, to be sure; but yet, I can't help thinking.

Sir Wil. And I can't help thinking, that you know how to equivocate. Look you, George, your words were plain downright English, and I expect that you will perform to the very letter. I have fixed my heart upon this match. Mr Blandford and i have passed the day at the Crown and Rolls to read over the deeds. I have been dining upon parchment, as I may say. I now tell you, once for all, you must be observant of my will and pleasure.

Bel. To end all dispute, sir, if the lady[Aside.] She will never consent; I may safely promise.-If the lady, sir, can at once forget her engagements with my friend Beverley

Sir Wil. You will then forget Clarissa? safely spoken. Come, I am satisfied. And now, now we shall see.

Enter BLANDFord.

Bland. Sir William, give me joy: every thing goes as I wish. My daughter is a complying girl. She is ready to obey my commands. Clarissa is with her, beseeching, wrangling; complaining, soothing; now in a rage, and now in tears; one moment expostulating, and the next imploring; but all in vain; Belinda holds her resolution; and so, young gentleman, you are now completely happy.

Bel. Death to my hopes! can this be true?

[Aside. Bland. Sir William, give me your hand upon it. This will not only be a match of prudence,

but of inclination.

Sir Wil. There, George! there is news for you! your business is done.

Bland. She owns very frankly, that her heart has been hitherto fixed upon a worthless man: she renounces him for ever, and is willing to give her hand as I shall direct.

Bel. What a dilemma am I brought into !

[Aside Sir Wil. George, what's the matter, boy? You a bridegroom! Wounds! at your age, I could cut a caper over the moon upon such an occasion.

Bel. I am more slack-mettled, sir: I cannot leap quite so high.

Sir Wil. A cup too low, I fancy. Let us go and finish our bottle. Belinda shall be my toast. I'll give you her health in a bumper. Come, Mr Blandford: I want to wash down the cobwebs of the law. [Exit. Bland. I attend you, sir William. Mr Bellmont, follow us: we must have your company: you are under par: come, we will raise you a note higher. [Exit BLAND. Bel. You have sunk me so low, that I shall never recover myself. This behaviour of Belinda's!-Can she think her treachery to one lover will recommend her to another?

Enter CLARISSA.

Cla. Mr Bellmont, I wish you joy, sir. Belinda has consented; and you have done the same. You are both consenting. The match is a very proper one. You will be finely paired.

Bel. You are misinformed, Clarissa; why will you do me this injustice?

Cla. Injustice! Mr Blandford has reported every thing he has done you justice: he has told us how easily you have been persuaded: don't imagine that I am hurt. I resign all pretensions: I can be prevailed upon with as much ease as you, sir: I can copy the easy compliance of Mr Bellinont.

Bel. If you will but hear me! moderate your

anger.

Cla. Anger!-anger indeed! I should be sorry any thing that has happened were of consequence enough to disturb ny peace of mind.Anger! I shall die with laughing at the thought. You may be false to your friends, sir; false to your vows; you may break every solemn engagement; Mr Blandford wishes it; Belinda wishes it; and why should not you comply? Follow the dictates of your own heart, sir.

Bel. Whatever has happened, Clarissa, I am not to blame.

Cla. I dare say not; and here is a lady will say the same.

Enter BELINDA.

Belin. Spare your reproaches, Clarissa. Mr Bellinont, you too may spare me. The agitations of my mind distress me so, I know not which way to turn myself. The provocation I have had

Cla. Provocation, madam! from whom? Belin. From your brother: you need not question me; you know what his conduct has been. Bel. By Heaven, you wrong him; and so you will find in the end.

Cla. Your own conduct, madam! will that stand as clear as my brother's? My lady Restless, I believe, has something to say. It will become you to refute that charge.

Belin. Downright malice, my dear: but I excuse you for the present.

Enter TIPPET.

Tip. [To BELIN.] Your chair is ready, ma'am. Belin. Very well: I have not a moment to lose: I am determined to know the bottom of this whole affair. Clarissa, when I return, you will be better disposed to hear me.

Cla. You need not trouble yourself, madam: I am perfectly satisfied.Tippet, will you be so good as to order my chair.

Belin. Well; suspend your judgment. This business is of importance: I must leave you now. [Exit with TIP.

Bel. Clarissa, if you knew how all this wounds me to the heart!

Cla. Oh! keep your resolution; go on with your very honourable design inclination should be consulted; and the necessity of the case, you know, will excuse you to the world.

Bel. Command your temper, and the whole shall be explained.

Cla. It wants no explanation: it is too clear already.

Bel. A moment's patience would set every thing right.-'Sdeath! one would imagine that lady Restless had been speaking to you, too. This is like the rest of them: downright jealousy!

Cla. Jealousy!-Upon my word, sir, you are of great consequence to yourself: but you shall find that I can, with perfect serenity, banish you, and your Belinda, entirely from my thoughts.

Enter TIPPET.

Tip. The chairmen are in the hall, ma'am.
Bel. Let me but speak to you.

Cla. No, sir: I have done: I shall quit this house immediately. [Going.] Mrs Tippet, could you let me have pen, ink, and paper, in your la dy's room?

Tip. Every thing is ready there, maʼam.

Cla. Very well-I'll go and write a letter to Belinda. I'll tell her my mind, and then adieu to all of you. [Exit with TIP. Bel. How perverse and obstinate.

Enter SIR WILLIAM.

Sir Wil. Well, George, every thing is settled. Bel. Why, really, sir, I don't know what to say. I wish you would consider

Sir Wil. At your tricks again?

Bel. I am above an attempt to deceive you: but, if all circumstances were known-I am not fond of speaking detractingly of a young lady; but for the honour of your family, sir, let us desist from this match.

Sir Wil. Roguery, lad! there's roguery in this.

Sir Wil. [Looking back.] What, loitering,

tion

Sir Wil. How?

Bel. I follow you, sir. [Exit SIR WIL.] Clarissa is not gone, I hope?

tween her and sir John Restless; sir John and lady Restless lived in perfect harmony, till this affair broke out. The peace of the family is now destroyed. The whole is come to the knowledge of my friend Beverley with tears in his eyes, with a bleeding heart (for he loved Belinda tenderly), he has at last mustered up resolution, and taken his final leave.

:

Sir Wil. Ay! can this be true?

Bel. It is but too true; I am sorry to report it. And now, sir, judge yourself—— Oh !here comes Mr Blandford: 'tis a dreadful scene to open to him; a terrible story for the ear of a father! You had best take no notice: we need not be accessary to a young lady's ruin: it is a family affair, and we may leave them to patch it up among themselves, as well as they can.

Sir Wil. If these things are so, why then the case is altered.

Tip. She is not gone far, sir; just stept out upon a moment's business to sir John Restless. Sir Wil. Gone to sir John Restless! [Aside. Bel. You see, sir.[TO SIR WIL. Bland. I did not think she knew sir John. Sir Wil. Yes, she knows him: she has been acquainted with him for some time past.

Bland. What freak has she got in her head? She is not gone after her Mr Beverley, I hope? Zookers, this has an odd appearance! I don't like it: I'll follow her this moment.

Bel. I must see her: she must come with us. If lady Restless persists in her story, who knows what turn this affair may take? Come, Mrs Tippet, shew me the way. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The hall in the house of SIR JOHN RESTLESS.

A loud rap at the door; and enter ROBERT.

Rob. What a hurry you are in there?—This is my lady, I suppose. Where can she have been? -Now for more confusion. If she finds Madam Belinda with sir John, we are all blown up again.

SIR JOHN. [Peeping in.]

Sir John. Robert, Robert! is that your lady? Rob. Mercy on us! She is coming, I believe, sir.-[Looks out.] I see her chair: it is my lady. Sir John. Don't let her know that Belinda is in the house.

Rob. Not if I can help it. Trust to me, sir. [Exit SIR JOHN.] Here she comes. What has she been about?

A chair is brought into the hall. Lady Rest. [Coming out of the chair.] Is sir John at home?

Rob. I fancy he is, my lady.

Lady Rest. Has any body been with him? Rob. He has been all alone, writing letters in his study: he desired not to be interrupted.

Lady Rest. I shall not interrupt him, I promise him. You never will tell me any thing, Robert: I don't care who comes after him. Tomorrow I shall quit this house, and then he may riot in licentious pleasure. If he asks for me, I am not well; I am gone to my own apartment: I hope to see no more of him. [Going. Chair. Shall your ladyship want the chair any more to-night?

| Lady Rest. I don't know what I shall want. Leave the chair there: you may wait.

[Exit LADY REST. Chair. Ay, always a waiting job. [Puts the chair aside. Exeunt Chairman and ROBERT.]

Enter SIR JOHN and BELINDA.

Belin. If you will but permit me to say a word

Sir John. Excuse me for the present: I beg

you will.

Belin. A short interview with lady Restless might clear up all my doubts: what objection can you have?

Sir John. A million of objections. You do not

Bland. I did, sir.

Bev. You accosted her violently: the harshness of your language overpowered her spirits: she was ready to faint: sir John was passing by : she was going to drop down: sir John assisted her: that is the whole of the story. Injured as I am, I must do justice to Belinda's character.She may treat me with the caprice and pride of insolent beauty; but her virtue claims respect. Sir John. There now! there! that is the whole of the story.

Lady Rest. The whole of the story! No, sir John: : you shall suppress nothing: you could receive a picture from her.

Sir John. You, madam, could receive a picture; and you, Mr Beverley, could present it. Lady Rest. Mr Beverley, you hear this!

Bev. I can justify you, madam. I gave your lady no picture, sir John.

Sir John. She had it in her hand. I saw her print her kisses on it, and in that moment I sei

zed it from her.

Bev. Belinda dropt it in the Park, when she was taken ill I had just given it to her. Your lady found it there.

Lady Rest. I found it on that very spot.
Bev. There, sir; she found it.

Sir John. I found you locked up in her cabinet; concealed in private.

Lady Rest. But with no bad intent.
Sir John. With the worst intent.

Bev. Your jealousy, sir John, has fixed an imputation upon me, who have not deserved it: and your suspicions, madam, have fallen, like a blasting mildew, upon a lady, whose name was never before sullied by the breath of calumny.

Sir Will. The affair is clear, as to your daughter, Mr Blandford. I am satisfied; and now we need not intrude any longer upon this family.

Enter BELLMONT and CLARISSA. Walk in, George, every thing is right: your fears

Sir John. Let the chair alone. You shall not go: you shall not quit this house till I consent. [Goes between her and the chair.

Lady Rest. I say, hold up.

Sir John. Let it alone.

Lady Rest. Very well, sir: I must be your prisoner, must I?

Sir John. It is mine to command here. No loose escapes this night; no assignations; no intrigues, to disgrace me.

Lady Rest. Such inhuman treatment! I am glad there are witnesses of your behaviour. [Walks away.

Bland. I am sorry to see all this confusion; but, since my daughter is not here————— Lady Rest. He knows where she is, and so you will find.

Sir John. [Coming forward.]—Your daughter is innocent, sir, I give you my honour. Where should she be in this house? Lady Restless has occasioned all this mischief. She formed a story to palliate her own misconduct. To her various artifices, you are a stranger; but, in a few days, you may depend

Lady Rest. [Aside, as she goes towards the chair. He shall find that I am not to be detained here.

[Makes signs to the chairmen to hold up. Sir John. I say, gentlemen, you may depend that I have full proof, and in a little time every thing will

[The chair is opened, and BELINDA comes out. Lady Rest. Who has proof now? There, there! In his house all the time !

see.

Bland. What do I see?

Bev. Belinda here!

Sir Wil. So, so! There is something in it, I

Sir John. Distraction! this is unlucky. Lady Rest. What say you now, Mr Beverley? Now, Mr Blandford! there; ocular demonstration for you!

Sir Wil. George, take Clarissa as soon as you will. Mr Blandford, you will excuse me, if I now decline any further treaty with you.

Bland. This abrupt behaviour, sir William

Sir Wil. I am satisfied, sir. I am resolved. Clarissa, you have my approbation: my son is at your service. Here, George, take her, and be happy.

Bel. [Taking her hand.] To you, from this moment, I dedicate all my future days.

Bland. Very well: take your own way. I can still protect my daughter.

Bev. And she deserves your protection: my dear Belinda, explain all this; I know it is in