and follow him immediately? And I warrant you that, by this time, he has made proposals to him to marry my sister- -Oh, that some other person, an earl, or a duke, would make his addresses to me, that I might be reveuged on this monster! Mrs Heid. Be cool, child! you shall be lady Melvil, in spite of all their cabailins, if it costs me ten thousand pounds to turn the scale. Sir John may apply to my brother, indeed; but I'll make them all know who governs in this fammaly. Miss Ster. As I live, madam, yonder comes sir John! A base man! I can't endure the sight of him. I'll leave the room this instant. [Disordered Mrs Heid. Poor thing! Well, retire to your own chamber, child; I'll give it him, I warrant you; and, by and by, I'll come and let you know all that has past between us. Miss Ster. Pray do, madam. [Looking back.] A vile wretch! [Exit in a rage. Enter SIR JOHN MELVIL. Sir John. Your most obedient humble servant, madam. [Bowing very respectfully. Mrs Heid. Your servant, sir John. [Dropping a half curtsey, and pouting. Sir John. Miss Sterling's manner of quitting the room, on my approach, and the visible coolness of your behaviour to me, madam, convince me that she has acquainted you with what past this morning. Mrs Heid. I am very sorry, sir John, to be made acquainted with any thing that should induce me to change the opinion which I would always wish to entertain of a person of qualaty. [Pouting. Sir John. It has always been my ambition to merit the best opinion from Mrs Heidelberg; and when she comes to weigh all circumstances, I flatter myself Mrs Heid. You do flatter yourself, if you imagine that I can approve of your behaviour to my niece, sir John. And give me leave to tell you, sir John, that you have been drawn into an action much beneath you, sir John; and that I I look upon every injury offered to Miss Betty Sterling, as an affront to myself, sir John. [Warmly. Sir John. I would not offend you for the world, madam; but when I am influenced by a partiality for another, however ill-founded, I hope your discernment and good sense will think it rather a point of honour to renounce engagements, which I could not fulfil so strictly as I ought; and that you will excuse the change in my inclinations, since the new object, as well as the first, has the honour of being your niece, madam. Mrs Heid. I disclaim her as a niece, sir John; Miss Sterling disclaims her as a sister, and the VOL. II. Enter STERLING, behind. And if you should not oppose my inclinations, I am sure of Mr Sterling's consent, madam. Mrs Heid. Indeed! Sir John. Quite certain, madam. Ster. [Behind.] So! they seem to be coming to terms already. I may venture to make my appearance. Mrs Heid. To marry Fanny? [STERLING advances by degrees. Sir John. Yes, madam. Mrs Heid. My brother has given his consent, you say? Sir John. In the most ample manner, with no other restriction than the failure of your concurrence, madam. [Sees STERLING.] Oh, here's Mr Sterling, who will confirm what I have told you. Mrs Heid. What! have you consented to give up your own daughter in this manner, brother? Ster. Give her up! no, not give her up, sister; only in case that you- Zounds, I am afraid you have said too much, sir John. [Apart to SIR John. Mrs Heid. Yes, yes. I see now that it is true enough what my niece told me. You are all plottin and caballin against her. Pray, does lord Ogleby know of this affair? Sir John. I have not yet made him acquainted with it, madani. Mrs Heid. No, I warrant you. I thought so. And so his lordship and myself, truly, are not to be consulted till the last. Ster. What! did not you consult my lord? Oh, fy for shame, sir John! Sir John. Nay, but Mr Sterling Mrs Heid. We, who are the persons of most consequence and experunce in the two fammalies, are to know nothing of the mattur, 'till the whole is as good as concluded upon. But his lordship, I am sure, will have more generosaty than to countenance such a perceding. And I could not have expected such behaviour from a person of your qualaty, sir John. And, as for you, brother Ster. Nay, nay, but hear me, sister. Mrs Heid. I am perfectly ashamed of you. Have you no spurrit? no more concern for the honour of our fammaly than to consent Ster. Consent! I consent! As I hope for mercy, I never gave my consent ! Did I consent, sir John? Sir John, Not absolutely, without Mrs Hei. 5 P delberg's concurrence. But, in case of her approbation Ster. Ay, I grant you, if my sister approved. But that's quite another thing, you know [To MRS HEIDELBERG.. Mrs Heid. Your sister approve, indeed! I thought you knew her better, brother Sterling! What! approve of having your eldest daughter returned upon your hands, and exchanged for the younger! I am surprised how you could listen to such a scandalous proposal. Ster. I tell you, I never did listen to it. Did not I say, that I would be entirely governed by my sister, sir John? And, unless she agreed to your marrying Fanny Mrs Heid. I agree to his marrying Fanny!— abominable! The man is absolutely out of his senses. Can't that wise head of yours foresee the consequence of all this, brother Sterling? Will sir John take Fanny without a fortune?— No! After you have settled the largest part of your property on your youngest daughter, can there be an equal portion left for the eldest?— No! Does not this overturn the whole systum of the fammaly? Yes, yes, yes! You know I was always for my niece Betsey's marrying a person of the very first qualaty. That was my maxum: and, therefore, much the largest settlement was, of course, to be made upon her. As for Fanny, if she could, with a fortune of twenty or thirty thousand pounds, get a knight, or a member of parliament, or a rich common council-man for a husband, I thought it might do very well. Sir John. But if a better match should offer itself, why should it not be accepted, madam ? Mrs Heid. What! at the expence of her elder sister? O fie, sir John! How could you bear to hear such an indignity, brother Sterling? you Ster. 1! Nay, I shan't hear of it, I promise I can't hear of it, indeed, sir John. Mrs Heid. But you have heard of it, brother Sterling. You know you have; and sent sir John to propose it to me. But if you can give up your daughter, I shan't forsake my niece, I assure you. Ah! if my poor dear Mr Heidelberg and our sweet babes had been alive, he would not have behaved so. Ster. Did I, sir John?--Nay, speak!Bring me off, or we are ruined. [Apart to SIR JOHN. Sir John. Why, to be sure, to speak the truth Mrs Heid. To speak the truth, I'm ashamed of you both. But have a care what you are about, brother! have a care, I say. The counsellors are in the house, I hear; and if every thing is not settled to my liking, I'll have nothing more to say to you, if I live these hundred years. I'll go over to Holland, and settle with Mr Vanderspracken, my poor husband's first cousin, and my own fammaly shall never be the better for a farden of my money, I promise you. [Exit. Ster. Nothing. Sir John. What! must our agreement break off the moment it is made, then? Ster. It can't be helped, sir John. The family, as I told you before, have great expectations from my sister; and if this matter proceeds, you hear yourself, that she threatens to leave us.--My brother Heidelberg was a warm man-a very warm man; and died worth a plumb at least; a plumb! ay, I warrant you, he died worth a plumb and a half. Sir John. Well; but if I Ster. And then, my sister has three or four very good mortgages, a deal of money in the three per cents, and old South-Sea annuities; besides large concerns in the Dutch and French funds. The greatest part of all this she means to leave to our family. Sir John. I can only say, sir Ster. Why, your offer of the difference of thirty thousand was very fair and handsome, to be sure, sir John. Sir John. Nay, but I am even willing to Ster. Ay, but if I was to accept it against her will, I might lose above a hundred thousand; so, you see the balance is against you, sir John. Sir John. But is there no way, do you think, of prevailing on Mrs Heidelberg to grant her consent? Ster. I am afraid not.- However, when her passion is a little abated-for she's very passionate-you may try what can be done: but you must not use my name any more, sir John. Sir John. Suppose I was to prevail on Lord Ogleby to apply to her, do you think that would have any influence over her? Ster. I think he would be more likely to persuade her to it than any other person in the family. She has a great respect for Lord Ogleby. She loves a lord. Sir John. I'll apply to him this very day.—And if he should prevail on Mrs Heidelberg, I may depend on your friendship, Mr Sterling? Ster. Ay, ay; I shall be glad to oblige you, when it is in my power; but, as the account stands now, you see it is not upon the figures. And so, your servant, sir John. [Exit. Sir John. What a situation am I in!-Breaking off with her whom I was bound by treaty to marry; rejected by the object of my affections; and embroiled with this turbulent woman, who governs the whole family. And yet opposition, instead of smothering, increases my inclination. I must have her. I'll apply immediately to lord Ogleby; and if he can but bring over the aunt to our party, her influence will overcome the scruples and delicacy of my dear Fanny, and I shall be the happiest of mankind. [Erit. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room. Enter MR STERLING, MRS HEIDELBERG, and Ster. What! will you send Fanny to town, sister? Mrs Heid. To-morrow evening. I've given orders about it already. Ster. Indeed! Mrs Heid. Posatively. Ster. But consider, sister, at such a time as this, what an odd appearance it will have. Mrs Heid. Not half so odd as her behaviour, brother. This time was intended for happiness, and I'll keep no incendiaries here to destroy it. I insist on her going off to-morrow morning. Ster. I'm afraid this is all your doing, Betsy. Miss Ster. No, indeed, papa. My aunt knows that it is not. For all Fanny's baseness to me, I am sure I would not do or say any thing to hurt her with you or my aunt for the world. Mrs Heid. Hold your tongue, Betsey; I will have my way. When she is packed off, every thing will go on as it should do. -Since they are at their intrigues, I'll let them see that we can act with vigour on our part; and the sending her out of the way, shall be the purliminary step to all the rest of my perceedings. Ster. Well, but sister SCENE II.-Changes to the Garden. Enter LORD OGLEBY, and CANTON. Lord Ogle. What! Mademoiselle Fanny to be sent away!-Why?-Wherefore? What's the meaning of all this? Can. Je ne sçais pas-I know nothing of it. Lord Ogle. It can't be-it shan't be :-I protest against the measure. She's a fine girl, and I had much rather that the rest of the family were annihilated, than that she should leave us. -Her vulgar father, that's the very abstract of 'Change-alley-the aunt, that's always endeavouring to be a fine lady-and the pert sister, for ever shewing that she is one, are horrid company indeed, and, without her, would be intolerable. Ah, la petite Fanchon! she's the thing: Isn't she, Canton? Can. Dere is very good sympatie entre vous and dat young lady, mi lor. Lord Ogle. I'll not be left among these Goths and Vandals, your Sterlings, your Heidelbergs, and Devilbergs- -if she goes, I'll positively go, too. Can. In de same post-chay, mi lor? You have no objection to dat, I believe, nor mademoiselle neither, too-ha, ha, ha! Lord Ogle. Prithee, hold thy foolish tongue, Canton. Does thy Swiss stupidity imagine that I can see and talk with a fine girl without desires! My eyes are involuntarily attracted by beautiful objects-I fly as naturally to a fine girl Mrs Heid. It does not signify talking, brother Sterling; for I'm resolved to be rid of her, and I will.- Come along, child. [To MISS STERLING.] The post-shay shall be at the door by Can. As de fine girl to you, my lor, ha, ha, ha! six o'clock in the morning; and if Miss Fanny You alway fly togedere like un pair de pigeonsdoes not get into it, why, I will--and so there's Lord Ogle. Like un pair de pigeons-[Mocks an end of the matter. [Bounces out with Miss him.]--Vous etes un sot, Mons. Canton---Thou STERLING; then returns.] One word more, bro-art always dreaming of my intrigues, and never ther Sterling. I expect that you will take your seest me badiner, but you suspect mischief, you eldest daughter in your hand, and make a formal old fool, you. complaint to Lord Ogleby, of sir John Melvil's behaviour.--Do this, brother;--shew a proper regard for the honour of your fammaly yourself, and I shall throw in my mite to the raising of it. If not but now you know my mind. So act as you please, and take the consequences. [Exit. Ster. The devil's in the women for tyranny! -Mothers, wives, mistresses, or sisters, they always will govern us. As to my sister Heidelberg, she knows the strength of her purse, and domineers upon the credit of it. I will do this,' and you shall do that,' and 'you shall do t'other, or else the fammaly sha'n't have a farden of '-[Mimicking.]- -So absolute with her money!-But, to say the truth, nothing but money can make us absolute; and so we must e'en make the best of her. [Exit. Can. I am fool, I confess, but not always fool in dat, my lor, he, he, he! Lord Ogle. He, he, he! Thou art incorrigible, but thy absurdities amuse one. Thou art like my rappee here,--[Takes out his box ----a most ridiculous superfluity, but a pinch of thee, now and then, is a most delicious treat. Can. You do me great honeur, mi lor. Lord Ogle. 'Tis fact, upon my soul! Thou art properly my cephalic snuff, and art no bad medicine against megrims, vertigoes, and profound thinking-Ha, ha, ha ! Can. Your flatterie, my lor, vil make me too d'amour! she, my lor---'tis one of de pigeons---de pigeons | To-morrow morning is fixed for your departure, and, if we lose this opportunity, we may wish in vain for another. He approaches-1 must retire. Speak, my dear Fanny; speak, and make us happy! [Exit LOVEWELL, key. Lord Ogle. Don't be ridiculous, you old mon[Smiling. Can. I am monkee, I am ole, but I have eye, I have ear, and a little understand, now and den. Lord Ogle. Taisez vous, bête. Can. Elle vous attend, my lor. She vil make a love to you. Fan. Good Heaven! What a situation am I in! What shall I do? What shall I say to him? I am all confusion. Enter LORD OGLEBY and CANTON. Lord Ogle. Will she? Have at her, then! A fine girl cannot oblige me more-- -Egad, I find Lord Ogle. To see so much beauty so solitary, myself a little enjoué---Come along, Cant! she madam, is a satire upon mankind, and 'tis fortuis but in the next walk--but there is such a dealuate that one man has broke in upon your reveof this damned crinkum-crankum, as Sterling rie, for the credit of our sex. I say one, madam; calls it, that one sees people for half an hour be- for poor Canton here, from age and infirmities, fore one can get to them-Allons, Mons. Canton, stands for nothing. allons, donc! [Exeunt, singing in French. SCENE III.--Another part of the garden. Enter LOVEWELL and FANNY. Love. My dear Fanny, I cannot bear your distress! It overcomes all my resolutions, and I am prepared for the discovery. Fan. But how can it be effected before my departure? Love. I'll tell you. Lord Ogleby 'seems to entertain a visible partiality for you; and, notwithstanding the peculiarities of his behaviour, I am sure that he is humane at the bottom. He is vain to an excess; but, withal, extremely good-natured, and would do any thing to recommend himself to a lady. Do you open the whole affair of our marriage to him immediately. It will come with more irresistible persuasion from you, than from myself; and I doubt not but you'll gain his friendship and protection at once. His influence and authority will put an end to sir John's solicitations, remove your aunt's and sister's unkindness and suspicions, and, I hope, reconcile your father and the whole family to our marriage. Can. Noting at all, indeed. Fan. Your lordship does me great honour. I had a favour to request, my lord! Lord Ogle. A favour, madam! To be honoured with your commands, is an inexpressible favour done to me, madam. Fan. If your lordship could indulge me with the honour of a moment's----What is the matter with me? [Aside, Lord Ogle. The girl's confused!---he !---here's something in the wind, faith---I'll have a tete-atete with her---Allez vous en ! [TO CANTON. Can. I go--Ah, pauvre Mademoiselle! my lor, have pitie upon the poor pigeone! Lord Ogle. I'll knock you down, Cant. if you're impertinent. [Smiling. Can. Den I mus away-[Shuffles along.]You are mosh please, for all dat. [Aside, and exit. Fan. I shall sink with apprehension. [Aside. Lord Ogle. What a sweet girl——————she's a civilized being, and atones for the barbarism of the rest of the family. Fan. My lord!-I [She curtsies, and blushes. Lord Ogle. [Addressing her.]-I look upon it, Fan. Heaven grant it! Where is my lord? madam, to be one of the luckiest circumstances Love. I have heard him and Canton, since din-of my life, that I have this moment the honour of ner, singing French songs under the great walnut receiving your commands, and the satisfaction of tree, by the parlour-door. If you meet with him confirming, with my tongue, what my eyes perin the garden, you may disclose the whole imme-haps, have but too weakly expressed that I am diately. Fan. Dreadful as the task is, I'll do it. Any thing is better than this continual anxiety. Love. By that time the discovery is made, I will appear to second you. Tia! here comes my lord. Now, my dear Fanny, summon up all your spirits. plead our cause powerfully, and be [Going. sure of success. Fan. Ah, don't leave me ! Love. Nay, you must let me. Fan. Well, since it must be so, I'll obey you, if I have the power. Oh, Lovewell ! Love. Consider, our situation is very critical. literally-the humblest of your servants. Fan. I think myself greatly honoured by your lordship's partiality to me; but it distresses me, that I am obliged, in my present situation, to apply to it for protection. Lord Ogle. I am happy in your distress, madam, because it gives me an opportunity to shew my zeal. Beauty, to me, is a religion in which I was born and bred a bigot, and would die a martyr. I am in tolerable spirits, faith! [Aside. Fan. There is not, perhaps, at this moment, a more distressed creature than myself. Aflection, duty, hope, despair, and a thousand different sen- | timents, are struggling in my bosom; and even the presence of your lordship, to whom I have flown for protection, adds to my perplexity. Lord Ogie. Does it, madam?-Venus forbid ! -My old fault; the devil's in me, I think, for perplexing young women.-[Aside, and smiling.] -Take courage, madam! dear Miss Fanny, explain. You have a powerful advocate in my breast, I assure you-My heart, madam-I am attached to you by all the laws of sympathy and delicacy. By my honour, I am! Fan. Then I will venture to unburthen my mind-Sir John Melvil, my lord, by the most misplaced and mistimed declaration of affection for me, has made me the unhappiest of Women. Lord Ogle. How, madam! Has sir John made his addresses to you? Fan. He has, my lord, in the strongest terms. But I hope it is needless to say, that my duty to my father, love to my sister, and regard to the whole family, as well as the great respect I eutertain for your lordship, [Curtseying.] made me shudder at his addresses. Lord Ogle. Charming girl! Proceed, my Miss Fanny, proceed! dear Fan. In a moment-—-give me leave, my lord! -But if what I have to disclose should be received with anger or displeasure Lord Ogle. Impossible, by all the tender powers-Speak, I beseech you, or I shall divine the cause before you utter it. Fan. Then, my lord, sir John's addresses are not only shocking to me in themselves. but are more particularly disagreeable to me at this time -as-as Lord Ogle. As what, madam? Fan. As-pardon my confusion-I an entirely devoted to another. softer passions, the criminal is pardoned and dismissed. Let us return, madam, to the highest luxury of exalted minds-a declaration of love from the lips of beauty. Fan. The entrance of a third person has a little relieved me, but I cannot go through with it; and yet I must open my heart with a discovery, or it will break with its burthen. Lord Ogle. What passion in her eyes! I am alarmed to agitation! [Aside.] I presume, madam, (and as you have flattered me, by making me a party concerned, I hope you'll excuse the presumption) that Fan. Do you excuse my making you a party concerned, my lord, and let me interest your heart in my behalf, as my future happiness or misery in a great measure dependLord Ogle. Upou nie, madam? Fan. Upon you, my lord. [Sighs. Lord Ogle. There's no standing this: I have caught the infection—her tenderness dissolves me. [Sighs. Fan. And should you too severely judge of a rash action which passion prompted, and modesty has long concealed Lord Ogle. [Taking her hand.] Thou amiable creature, command my heart, for it is vanquished! Speak but thy virtuous wishes, and enjoy them. Fan. I cannot, my lord; indeed, I cannot. Mr Lovewell must tell you my distresses; and when you know them, pity and protect me. [Erit in tears. Lord Ogle. How the devil could I bring her to this? It is too much-too much-I can't bear it-I must give way to this amiable weakness. [Wipes his eyes. My heart overflows with sym[Hesitating.pathy, and I feel every tenderness I have inspired. [Stifles a tear.] How blind have I been to the desolation I have made! How could I possibly imagine that a little partial attention and tender civilities to this young creature should have gathered to this burst of passion! Can I be a man, and withstand it? No--I'll sacrifice the whole sex to her. But here comes the father, quite apropos. I'll open the matter immediately, settle the business with him, and take the sweet girl down to Ogleby House to-morrow morning. But what the devil! Miss Sterling, too! What mischief's in the wind now? Lord Ogle. If this is not plain, the devil's in it-[Aside.] But tell me, my dear Miss Fanny, for I must know; tell me the how, the when, and the where-Tell me Enter CANTON hastily. Can. My lor, my lor, my lor! Lord Ogle. Damn your Swiss impertinence! how durst you interrupt me in the most critical melting moment that ever love and beauty honoured me with? Can. I demande pardonne, my lor! Sir John Melvil, my lor, sent me to beg you do him de honeur to speak a little to your lordship. Lord Ogle. I'm not at leisure-I am busyGet away, you stupid old dog, you Swiss rascal, or I'll Can. Fort bien, my lor. [CANTON goes out on tiptoe. Lord Ogle. By the laws of gallantry, madam, this interruption should be death: but, as no punishment ought to disturb the triumph of the Enter MR STERLING and MISS STERLING. Ster. My lord, your servant! I am attending my daughter here upon rather a disagreeable affair. Speak to his lordship, Betsey. Lord Ogle. Your eyes, Miss Sterling-for I always read the eyes of a young lady-betray some little emotion. What are your commands, madam? Miss Ster. I have but too much cause for my emotion, my lord! Lord Ogle. I cannot commend my kinsman's behaviour, madam. He has behaved like a false |