Harry. Be kind enough to wait a few minutes | flourished prosperously. But you had a son! I without, my very good friends. [Exeunt tradesmen. remember it. Mr. Williams-(Takes his hand.) [guilty. Harry. The innocent must not suffer for the Dornton. You will die in an alms-house. Harry. May be so; but the orphan's and the widow's curseshall not meet me there. Dornton. Harry! Zounds. (Checking his fondness.) Dornton. Are you not? (Wanting words.) Dornton. Quit the room. Begone! A Harry. You are the best of men, sir; and I-but I hate whining. Repentance is a pitiful scound el, that never brought back a single yesterday. Amendment is a fellow of more mettle; but it is too late. Suffer I ought, and suffer I must. My debts of honour discharged, do not let my tradesmen go unpaid. Dornton. You have ruined me! Harry. The whole is but five thousand pounds. Dornton. But? The counter is loaded with the destruction you have brought upon us all. Dornton. Why do you roll your eyes, Harry? Dornton. Stay you where you are, Harry. (Catching his hand.) All will be well; I am very happy! Do not leave me; I am very happy! Indeed, I am Harry; very happy! Harry. Heaven bless you, sir! You are a worthy gentleman. I'll not be long. Dornton. Hear me, Harry: I am very happy! Mr. Smith. Sir, shall we send to the bank for a thousand pounds worth of silver? Harry. (Furiously) No, scoundrel! Breaks away, and exi'. Dornton. (Calling, and almost sobbing.) Harry! Harry! I am very happy. Harry Dornton! In a kind of stupor.) I am very happy; very happy! [Exit, Mr. Smith following. SCENE III.-The House of Mr. Silky. Enter MR. SILKY and JACOB. Sil. Nor any message from the widow? Sil. See who knocks, Jacob. [Exit Jacob.] I dare say it is one or t'other. They must come to me at last. Enter HARRY DORNTON, in wild haste, following Harry. (Entering.) Are you sure he is at home? Sil. Ah! my dear Mr. Dornton, how do you do? Harry. No, no; I have been a sad fellow, but not I hope you are very well: I am exceedingly glad even my extravagance can shake this house. Enter MR. SMITH, in consternation. Mr. Smith. Bills are pouring in so fast upon us, we shall never get through. [What? Harry. (Struck with astonishment.) What? Mr. Smith. We have paid our light gold so often over, that the people are very surly. Dornton. Pay it no more. Sell it instantly for what it is worth; disburse the last guinea, and shut up the doors. Harry. (Taking Mr. Smith aside.) Are you serious? Mr. Smith. Sir. Harry. (Impatiently.) Are you serious, I say? Is it not some trick to impose upon me? Mr. Smith. Look into the shop, sir, and convince yourself. If we have not a supply in half an hour, we must stop. [Exit. Harry. (Wildly.) My father! Sir! (Turning away.) Is it possible? Disgraced? Ruined! In reality, ruined! By me? Are these things so? [me. Dornton. Harry! how you look! You frighten Dornton. Hear me, Harry. [Harry. Harry. Don't droop. (Returning.) Don't despair: I'll find relief. (Aside.) First to my friend; he eannot fail. But, if he should? Why, ay, then to Megæra. I will marry her, in such a cause, were she fifty widows, and fifty furies! Dornton. Calm yourself, Harry. Harry. I am calm; very calm! It shall be done. Don't be dejected; you are my father. You were the first of men in the first of cities Revered by the good, and respected by the great. You to see you. This call is so kind, so condescending. It gives me infinite pleasure. [favour. Harry. Mr. Silky, you must instantly grant me a Sil. A favour! What is it? How can I serve you? I would run to the world's end. Harry. You must exert your whole friendship. Sil. Friendship, sir? Say duty. Twas you that made a man of me. I should have been ruined, in the Bench, I know not where or what, had you not come forward and supported me at the critical moment; and now I can defy the world. Harry. (Impatiently.) Hear me. I know you can. Sil. Oh, yes! The sum you Ient me, a lucky speculation, five years of continual goed fortune, and other little lifts, have made me-I won't say what, -But, your father, and perhaps another or two excepted; I say, perhaps, I'll shew my head with the proudest of 'em. Harry. Why, then, I am a fortunate man! Sil. To be sure you are. How can I serve you? What can I do? Make me happy. Harry. You can rescue me from phrenzy! Sil. Can I? I am proud; infinitely happy! What? How? I am a lucky fellow! Tell me which way? Where can I run? What can I do? Harry. (Dreading.) The request is serious; try ing. Sil. So much the better; so much the better. Whom could I serve, if not you? You! the son of the first man in the city. Harry. (Wildly.) You mistake. Sil. I don't. You are, you are! Dornton and Co. may challenge the world; the house of Hope, perHarry. Woeful mistake. [haps, excepted. Sil. Pooh! [nient. Harry. Our house is in danger of stopping paySil. Sir! stop payment! Harry. My follies are the cause. Harry, I have not been used to favours; but- Harry, Scorn me, curse me, spurn me; but save Sil. Oh, dear, no. Ha, ha, ha! Not in the least. Ha, ha, ha! I assure you, I, I, I— Harry. I have told you our situation. Yourself, and two other friends, must jointly support my father by your credit, to the amount of fifty thousand pounds. Mark me; must. Sil. Fifty thousand pounds, Mr. Dornton? Fifty thousand pounds! Are you dreaming? Me? Fifty thousand pounds? Or half the sum? Or a fifth of the sum? Me? Harry. Prevaricating scound! Hear me, sir! Harry. I must be calm. (Bursting out.) Are you not a? I say, sir, you have yourself informed me of your ability, and I must insist. Observe, sir! I insist on your immediate performance of this act of duty. Sil. Duty, and fifty thousand pounds! Are you mad, Mr. Dornton? Are you mad? Or do you think me mad? Harry. I think you the basest of wretches. Sil. Nay, Mr. Dornton, I would do any thing to serve you. Any thing, I protest to heaven. Would go any where, run Harry. Of my errands, wipe my shoes. Any dirty menial office, that cost you nothing. And this you call shewing your gratitude. Sil. Is it not, Mr. Dornton? Harry. (His anger rising.) And will you give no help to the house? Sil. Nay, My Dornton Harry. After the favours you have been for years receiving, the professions you have been daily making, and the wealth you have by these means been hourly acquiring; will you not, sir? Sil. (Retreating.) Nay, Mr. Dornton! Harry. (Advancing.) Will you not, sir? Sil, Don't hurt a poor old man. I can't. Harry. (Seizing, shaking him, and throwing him from him) Scoundrel! [Erit. Sil. Bless my heart; stop payment! The house of Dornton! Fifty thousand pounds! I declare I am all of a tremble. Jacob! William! Enter JACOB. Have we any bills on the house of Dornton? ACT IV. SCENE I-The House of the Widow Warren. Enter JENNY, followed by HARRY DORNTİN ; who, with an oppressed heart, half drunk withwine and passion, assumes the appearance of wild ad excessive gaiety. Harry. Away, handmaid of Hecate! Fly Jenny. Goddess! I knew you meant Miss Sophy. Harry. Widow, here am I! Phaeton the second, hurled from my flaming car. I come burning with flerce desires, devoutly bent on committing the deadly sin of matrimony! May these things be? Speak, my saving angel! Widow. Nay, but-dear Mr. Dornton! Harry. Do not imagine, amiable widow, that I am mad. No, no, no! (With a hysteric laugh.) Only a little flighty. Left my father furiously, drank three bottles of Burgundy franticly, flew in amorous phrenzy to the attack: and will carry the place, or die on the spot. Powder and poison await my choice; and let me tell you, sweet widow, I am a man of my word. So, you'll have me, won't Widow. Oh, Mr. Dornton! [you? Hary. Why, you would not see my father perish, would you? and me expire! would you? Widow. Am I so very cruel? Harry. Then say, yes. Yes; or pistols-daggers -cannon balls! Widow, Yes, sir; yes, yes! Harry. Hold, fair widow! Kind widow, hold! Be not rash. I am the veriest villain! avoid me. A ruined-but that were, indeed, a trifle-my father! Him! him have I ruined! Heard you that? Bring forth your hoards! Let him once be himself, and bid me kiss the dust. Widow. (Aside.) Elegant youth! Harry. And wilt thou, widow, be his support? (Eagerly.) Wilt thou? Widow. Cruel question! How can I deny? Harry. Immortal blessings be upon thee! My father Widow. Will be all rapture to hear. Harry (Shakes his head) Ah, ah, ah, ah! (Sighs.) You don't know my father. A strange, affectionate -that loves me! Oh! he-and you see how I use him: you see how I use him. But no matter. Jacob. I have just been examining the book, sir. Tol de rol! We'll be married to-night. We have bills to the amount of Sil. How much? Jacob. Three, sir. [pounds? Sil. Three? Three thousand? Bless my heart! Jacob. We heard the news the very moment after young Dornton came in. How much? A thousand Sil. Run, pay the bills away. Run Sil. Anywhere; anybody will take 'em. with them to my dear friend, Mr. Smallware; it is too far for him to have heard of the crash. Begone! Don't leave him. Give my very best respects to him. He will oblige me infinitely. Fly! And, Jacob; make haste, go to the clearing-house, and get it whispered among the clerks. Then, if there are any of Dornton's bills to be bought at fifty per cent, discount. let me know. I will buy up all I can. [Exit Jacob.] It's a safe speculation: I know the house; there must be a good round dividend. [Exit. Widow, Oh, fie! Harry. Ay, my Madonna! To-night's the day. The sooner the better. 'Tis to rescue a father, blithesome widow! A father! To save him have I fallen in love. Remember; sin with open eyes, widow. Money! I must have money. Early in the morn, ere counters echo with the ring of gold, fifty thousand must be raised! Widow. It shall, Mr. Dornton. Harry. Why, shall it? Shall it? Speak again, beautiful vision, speak! Shall it? Widow. Dear Mr. Dornton, it shall. Harry. Remember! thing in the morning. Fifty thousand, the first Widow. And would not a part this evening? (Still coquetting.) Harry. (Suddenly.) What sayest thou? Oh, no. Widow. I have à trifling sum. Harry. Ah, ha! my merry maid of May! Jenny. I suppose you are waiting to see Miss Sophy, now you have got rid of the old lady? Harry. Got rid of the old lady? Thou brazen pin-placer! thou virgin of nine-and-twenty years Occupation! No, I have not got rid of the old lady: the old lady is to be my blooming, youthful bride! and I, happy youth, am written and destined in the records of eternity her other half! Heigho! Jenny. Lord, sir! what rapturation. But stay a little, and I'll tell Miss Sophy her mamma "ants her here; so, then-hush! Jenny retires, making a sign.) Re-enter the WIDOW WARREN. Widow. Here's the draft. Harry. Thanks, my Sultana! This halcyon night the priest, pronouncing conjurations direWidow. Fie! I won't look at you. Harry. Ay, to night we'll marry; shall we not? (Sitting down and coquetting.) Enter SOPHIA, skippingly, but stops short on seeing them. Harry. To-night shall be a night of wonder; and we'll love like-(Aside.) like Darby and Joan. Widow. (Languishingly.) I shall hate you intolerably. (Sophia advancing on tiptoe.) Harry. Hey for the parson's permission. Hey, my sublime widow. [moment. Widow. To steal thus upon one at an unguarded Harry. But here first let me kneel, and thus to Ceres pay-(Going to kiss her hand in rapture, meets the eye of Sophia.) Sophia. (Coming between them with bursting trepidation, taking the valentine from her bosom and presenting it.) There, sir. Widow. Ah! Sophia. There, sir. Oh pray, sir, take it, sir. Sophia. I request, sir; I desire, sir. Sophia. (Tearing the paper piecemeal, and throwing it spitefully away.) Why then, there, sir; and there, sir; and there, there, there, there, sir! Widow. Poor minikin! I declare she is jealous. Sophia. (Her sobs rising.) And I'll-I'll-wri-i-i-ite to my-to my grandma-a-a-a-a directly. Widow. Fie, child. Sophia. And I'll go do-o-own-into Glo-0-0Ostershire. Widow. Go up to your chamber, child. Sophia. And I'll tell my grandma-a what a false, base, bad man you are; and she shall ha-ate you, Sophia. And moreover, I'll hate and despise all mankind; and, for your sake, (With great energy,) I'll live and die a maid! Widow. Yes, child, that I dare be sworn you will. Harry. Widow, I'm a sad fellow; don't have me. I'm a vile fellow! Sophy, you are right to despise me; I am going to marry your mother. Sophia. I'll go down into Glo-o-ostershire-I wo-on't live in such a false-hearted city. And you ought to be ashamed of yourself, ma', to make yourself so ridiculous. Harry. No, no, sweet sylph, it's all my fault! all Widow. (Enraged.) Be gone, miss. [my fault. Harry. (Interposing.) Sweet widow! gentle widow!-I've sold myself, Sophy! six thousand pounds is the_earnest-money paid down, for the reptile, Harry Dornton!-I love you, Sophy. Widow. How, Mr. Dornton? Harry. I do, by heaven! take back your money, widow. (Offering the draft.) I'm a sad scoundrel! Sophia. You are a base, faithless, man, you know you are. And you are a pitiless woman, a merciless woman, for all you are my own mother, to let my poor brother Milford go to be starved to death in a dark dungeon. Harry. Milford in prison? ugly father. I'm sure he is ugly; though I never Harry. Is this true, widow? Harry. (Agitated.) Arrested by my father?squandering her money on a ruined reprobate, and won't release her husband's son. Widow. Nay, but dear Mr. Dornton. Harry. I'll be with you again presently, widow; presently, presently. [Exit. Widow. (Speaking after him.) To-night, you know, Mr. Dornton Gold. Made sure of the Eclipse colts!-must not lose 'em. Jenny. (Aside.) Stupid booby! Widow. (Advancing.) What is your present business, sir? Gold. My business? ha, ha, ha! that's a good one! I'll tell you my business-(Approaching with open arms.) Widow. (Haughtily.) Keep your distance, sir. Gold. Distance, widow? No, that's not the way. I should be double distanced if I did. Widow. Were you, indeed, a man of deportment and breeding Gold. Breeding ?-Look at my spurs. Widow. Had you the manner, the spirit, theBut, no, you are no gentleman Gold. Whew! no gentleman? (Claps on his hat and takes a lounging impudent swagger.) D-me, that's a good one!-Charles Goldfinch no gentleman!-Ask in the box-lobby! inquire at the school. (In a boxing attitude.) Widow. Sir, you are a tedious person; your company is troublesome. Gold. Turf or turnpike, keep the best of cattle walk, trot, or gallop-run, amble, or canter-laugh at every thing on the road-Give 'em all the go-by. -Beat the trotting butcher.-Gentleman!-That's your sort! Jenny. (Aside to Gold.) Follow me. [Exit. Widow. I beg, sir, I may not be intruded upon with you or your horse-jockey jargon any more. [Exit. Gold. Here's a kick-up, dish'd again-I knew I should have no luck-started badly in the morning -d-n all dancing masters and their umbrellas. [Exit. SCENE IL-An Apartment at the house of a Sheriff's Officer. Enter HARRY DORNTON, agitated, with an Officer. Harry. Dispatch, man! dispatch! Tell Jack Milford I can't wait a moment-hold-write an acquittal instantly for the thousand pounds. But say not a word to him of my intention. [sand. Officer. A thousand, sir; it is almost five thouHariy. Impossible! Officer. There are detainers already lodged to to that amount. Harry. Five thousand? [total? Officer. Must I write the acquittal for the sum Harry. No-yes; write it, however. Have it ready. Early to-morrow morning it shall all be paid. [detainers. Officer. In the meantime there may be more Harry. D-n! What shall I do?-run, send him; and, do you hear, a bottle of champagne and two rummers.-Rummers! Mind!-not a word to him! [Exit Officer.] Five thousand! and more detainers! Enter Officer, with a bottle and glasses, and MILFORD following. Milford. (With surprise.) Mr. Dornton! Harry. How now, Jack! What's your wonder? I can't stay a moment with you, but I could not pass without giving you a call. Your hand, my boy, cheer up! Milford. (Coolly.) Excuse me, sir! Harry Why, Jack!-Psha! cast away this gloom, and be-Honest Jack Milford! You are now in tribulation; what of that? Why, man, the blessed sun himself is sometimes under a cloud! wait but till to-morrow!-Where is the wine? Come, drink, and wash away grief! 'Sblood, never look frosty and askance, man, but drink, drink, drink. Milford. (Abruptly.) Sir, I am not disposed to drink. Harry. Here's confusion to all sorrow and thinking!-I could a tale unfold!-But I won't afflict you -I must fly-Yet I can do no good to-nightHurrah, Jack! Keep up your spirits! Be determined, like me.-I am the vilest of animals that crawl the earth-Yet I won't flag!-I'll die a boldfaced villain;-I have sold myself-am disinherited -have lost-Ah, Sophia!-Hurrah, Jack!-Keep it up!-Round let the great globe whirl! and whirl it will, though I should happen to slide from its surface into infinite nothingness-Drink, my noble soul! Milford. Your mirth is impertinent, sir. Harry. So it is, Jack: dd impertinent! Bit ruin is around us, and it is high time to be merry Milford. Sir, I must inform you that, though I have been betrayed by you, and imprisoned by your father, I will not be insulted. Harry. Betrayed by me? Milford. Ay, sir; I have had full information of your mean arts. It was necessary I should be out of the way, that your designs on Mrs. Warren might meet no interruption. Harry. Psha!-Good day, Jack; good day Milford. And pray, sir, inform your father, I despise his meanness, and spurn at his malce. Harry. (Suddenly returning and darting on him, but stopping short.) Jack Milford :-utter no blasphemy against my father. I am half mad!-I came your Milford. I despise your friendship. [friend Harry. That's as you please. Think all that is vile of me: I defy you to exceed the truth. But utter not a word against my father." Milford. Deliberately, pitifully malignant! Not take, he has sent round to all my creditors. satisfied with the little vengeance he himself could Harry. 'Tis false! Harry. A vile, eternal falsehood! Enter Officer, with papers and writs. Harry. (Angrily.) We are busy, sir. Harry. I tell you we are busy, and must not be interrupted. [Exit Officer.] Mr. Milford, you shall hear from me immediately. [Exit Harry. Milford. (After ruminating.) What were those papers? Surely I have not been rash.-Nobody but his father could have brought my creditors thus on me all at once. He seemed half drunk or half frantic. Said he was ruined, disinherited. Talked something of to-morrow. What could the purport of his coming be? Enter Officer. Well, sir? Officer. Here is a note, sir. Officer. The young gentleman. Milford. (Reads, aside.) "I understand you are at liberty." How! At liberty? "I shall walk up to Hyde Park: you will find me at the ring at six. Exactly at six." At liberty? Officer. Your debts are all discharged Milford. No hesitation, but tell me by whom. Officer. Sir, I thought I perceived some anger between you and the young gentleman? Milford. Ask no questions, sir; make no delays. Tell me who has paid my debts: tell me the truth. -Consequences, you do not suspect, depend upon your answer. Officer. I perceive, sir, there has been some warmth between you; and though the young gentleman made me promise silence and secrecyMilford. What, then, it was Mr. Dornton? (Officer bows.) Madman! What have I done! [Exeunt. SCENE IIL-The House of Dornton. Enter HARRY DORNTON, followed by MR. SMITH Harry. And the denger not yet past? Mr Smith. Far from it. Mr. Sulky has twice brought us supplies, and is gone a third time. Harry. Brave spirit! He would coin his heart! -My father supports it nobly. Tol lol-I'll Mr. Smith. He is anxious only for you. Harry. Well, well. Ha, ha, ha! bring him relief.-Comfort him, assure him of it.Ay, hear me heaven, and-To-night it is too late, but to-morrow all shall be well!-Excellent well! Mr. Smith. (Significantly.) You will marry the widow? Harry. Have you heard?-Ay, boy, ay! - We'll marry! I will go and prepare her. We'll marry! -Early in the morning that all may be safe. I have told her the truth. She knows all- Why, ay,(Looking at his watch.) The proctor s, the lawyer's, the widow's, and (starts) at six? The ring!-at six!-Fiends! Who can say what may-What, leave my father to perish? I'll not go, though all hell should brand me for a coward, I'll not go.Mr. Smith, take care of my father!-Mark me, I recommend my father to you. [Exit. Enter MR. DORNTON. Dornton. Where is Harry?-Did not I hear his voice? Mr. Smith. He is this moment gone, sir. Mr. Smith. Do you not suspect where, sir? Dornton. For what purpose? Mr. Smith. To marry her. Dorn on. Marry!-The widow Warren! Mr. Smith. And save the house by her fortune. Dornton. Generous Harry! Noble, affectionate boy! I'd perish first! Mr. Smith. He seems very resolute. already had six thousand pounds of her. He has Dornton. Marry her? I shall go mad!-Where is Mr. Sulky? Mr. Smith. He is just returned. I hear him in the counting-house. Dornton. Tell him I wish to speak with him. [Exit. Mr. Smith.] Harry Dornton and the widow Warren?-I shall die in Bedlam! Sulky Whom? Is the carriage ready? Servant. It's at the door, sir. Dornton. (Going· -turns back.) So, Mr. Sulky, you would see him married to this widow, to whom you have so often, as well as now, given the worst of characters, rather than incur a little more risk for your friend? Sulky. Marry? Dornton. Yes, marry! Dornton. The widow Warren, I tell you! Dornton. Yes, Harry Dornton! Sulky. When? Where? Dornton. Immediately. With unexampled affection, to save me, who am old and worthless, he would devote his youth, his great qualities, and his noble heart, to all the torments which such a murriage, and such a woman can inflict! Sulku. Take the money. Dornton. Are you serious, Mr. Sulky? Sulky. Take the money! Away! Begone! I would indeed starve, inchmeal, rather than he Dornton. Harry Dornton. Would you?-Would should marry her. you? Would you, Mr. Sulky? Sulky. A kind question. Dornton. Nay, I did not mean to be unkind, Mr. Sulky; you know I did not.-Shall we not venture one step more to save him? Sulky. Save? Impossible! Ruin only can reform him! total ruin. Dornton. You mistake, Mr. Sulky. His own misfortunes little affected him, but mine-! He is struck to the heart.- I know him. [friend! Dornton. Mr. Sulky, you are a worthy man, a true Sulky. Curse compliments! Make haste! ACT V. SCENE I-The Widow Warren's. Enter SOPHIA and JENNY. [Exeunt. Jenny. So, miss! Here's your mamma just coming down. Sophia. (Much agitated.) Is she dressed? |