SCENE I.-The London tavern. ACT V. Enter O'FLAHERTY, STOCKWELL, CHARLES, and BELCOUR. O'Fla. GENTLEMEN, well met! you understand each other's minds; and, as I see you have brought nothing but your swords, you may set to without any further ceremony. Stock. You will not find us backward in any worthy cause; but, before we proceed any further, I would ask this young gentleman, whether he has any explanation to require of Mr Bel cour. Cha. Of Mr Belcour none; his actions speak for themselves but to you, sir, I would fain propose one question. Stock. Name it. have to question me, and I shall not answer till I see occasion. Stock. Had you been as silent heretofore, madam, it would have saved you some trouble; but we don't want your confession. This letter, which you wrote to Mr Belcour, will explain your design; and these diamonds, which, of right, belong to Miss Rusport, will confirm your guilt: the law, Mrs Fulmer, will make you speak, though I can't. Constable, take charge of your prisoners. Ful. Hold a moment! Mr Stockwell, you are a gentleman that knows the world, and a member of parliament; we shall not attempt to impose upon you; we know we are open to the law, and we know the utmost it can do against us. Mr Belcour has been ill used, to be sure, and so has Miss Dudley; and, for my own part, I always condemned the plot as a very foolish Stock. I will answer you directly, and my an-plot; but it was a child of Mrs Fulmer's brain, swer shall not displease you. I come hither in defence of the reputation of Miss Dudley, to redress the injuries of an innocent young lady. O'Fla. By my soul the man knows he's to fight, only he mistakes which side he's to be of. Cha. How is it, Mr Stockwell, that I meet a man of your character on this ground? Stock. You are about to draw your sword to refute a charge against your sister's honour; you would do well, if there were no better means within reach; but the proofs of her innocence are lodged in our bosoms, and, if we fall, you destroy the evidence that most effectually can clear her fame. Cha. How's that, sir? Stock. This gentleman could best explain it to you, but you have given him an undeserved name that seals his lips against you: I am not under the same inhibition; and, if your anger can keep cool for a few minutes, I desire I may cal in two witnesses, who will solve all difficulties at once. Here, waiter! bring those people in that are without. O'Fla. Out upon it, what need is there for so much talking about the matter? can't you settle your differences first, and dispute about them afterwards? and she would not be put out of conceit with it. Mrs Ful. You are a very foolish man, Mr Fulmer; so, prithee, hold your tongue. Ful. Therefore, as I was saying, if you send her to Bridewell, it won't be amiss; and if you give her a little wholesome discipline, she may be the better for that too: but for me, Mr Stockwell, who am a man of letters, I must beseech you, sir, not to bring any disgrace upon my profession. Stock. 'Tis you, Mr Fulmer, not I, that disgrace your profession; therefore begone, nor expect that I will betray the interests of mankind so far as to shew favour to such incendiaries. Take them away; I blush to think such wretches should have the power to set two honest men at variance. [Exeunt FULMER, &c. Cha. Mr Belcour, we have mistaken each other; let us exchange forgiveness. I am convinced you intended no affront to my sister, and ask your pardon for the expression I was betrayed into. Bel. 'Tis enough, sir; the error began on my side, and was Miss Dudley here, I would be the first to atone. Stock. Let us all adjourn to my house, and conclude the evening like friends: you will find a little entertainment ready for you; and, if I am not mistaken, Miss Dudley and her father will make part of our company. Come, major, do you consent? FULMER and MRS FULMER brought in. Cha. Fulmer and his wife in custody? Stock. Yes, sir; these are your honest landlord and landlady, now in custody for defrauding this gentleman of certain diamonds intended to have O'Fla. Most readily, Mr Stockwell; a quarrel, been presented to your sister.-Be so good, Mrs well made up, is better than a victory hardly Fulmer, to inform the company why you so earned. Give me your hand, Belcour; o' my grossly scandalized the reputation of an innocent conscience, you are too honest for the country lady, by persuading Mr Belcour, that Miss Dud-you live in. And now, my dear lad, since peace ley was not the sister, but the mistress, of this gentleman. Mrs Ful. Sir, I don't know what right you is concluded on all sides, I have a discovery to make to you, which you must find out for yourself; for deuce take me if I rightly comprehend it, only that your aunt Rusport is in a conspiracy | Mr Belcour to believe he could be guilty of a against you, and a vile rogue of a lawyer, whose name I forget, at the bottom of it. Cha. What conspiracy? Dear major, recollect yourself. O'Fla. By my soul, I've no faculty at recollecting myself; but I've a paper somewhere about me, that will tell you more of the matter than I can. When I get to the merchant's, I will endeavour to find it. Cha. Well, it must be in your own way; but I confess you have thoroughly roused my curiosity. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-STOCKWELL's house. Enter CAPTAIN DUDLEY, LOUISA, and Dud. And are those wretches, Fulmer and his wife, in safe custody? Stuke. They are in good hands; I accompanied them to the tavern, where your son was to be, and then went in search of you. You may be sure Mr Stockwell will enforce the law against them as far as it will go. Dud. What mischief might their cursed machinations have produced, but for this timely discovery! Lou. Still I am terrified!—I tremble with apprehension lest Mr Belcour's impetuosity, and Charles's spirit, should not wait for an explanation, but drive them both to extremes, before the mistake can be unravelled. Stuke. Mr Stockwell is with them, madam, and you have nothing to fear-you cannot suppose he would ask you hither for any other purpose but to celebrate their reconciliation, and to receive Mr Belcour's atonement. Dud. No, no, Louisa. Mr Stockwell's honour and discretion guard us against all danger or offence he well knows we will endure no imputation on the honour of our family, and he certainly has invited us to receive satisfaction on that score in an amicable way. Lou. Would to Heaven they were returned ! Stuke. You may expect them every minute; and see, madam, agreeable to your wish, they are here. [Exit STUKE. Enter CHARLES, and afterwards STOCKWELL and O'FLAHERTY. Lou. O Charles! O brother! how could you serve me so? how could you tell me you was going to lady Rusport's, and then set out with a design of fighting Mr Belcour? But where is he? Where is your antagonist? Stock. Captain, I am proud to see you; and you, Miss Dudley, do me particular honour. We have been adjusting, sir, a very extraordinary and dangerous mistake, which, I take for granted, my friend Stukely has explained to you. Dud. He has. I have too good an opinion of designed affront to an innocent girl; and I am much too well acquainted with your character, to suppose you could abet him in such design; I have no doubt, therefore, all things will be set to rights in very few words, when we have the pleasure of seeing Mr Belcour. Stock. He has only stept into the comptinghouse, and will wait upon you directly. You will not be over strict, madam, in weighing Mr Belcour's conduct to the minutest scruple. His manners, passions, and opinions, are not, as yet, assimilated to this climate; he comes amongst you a new character, an inhabitant of a new world; and both hospitality, as well as pity, recommend him to our indulgence. Enter BELCOUR, who bows to MISS DUDLEY. Bel. I am happy, and ashamed, to see youno man in his senses would offend you-I forfeited mine, and erred against the light of the sun, when I overlooked your virtues-but your beauty was predominant, and hid them from my sight-I now perceive I was the dupe of a most improbable report, and humbly entreat your pardon. Lou. Think no more of it; 'twas a mistake. Bel. My life has been composed of little else; 'twas founded in mystery, and has continued in error: I was once given to hope, Mr Stockwell, that you was to have delivered me from these difficulties; but, either I do not deserve your confidence, or I was deceived in my expectations. Stock. When this lady has confirmed your pardon, I shall hold you deserving of my confidence. Lou. That was granted the moment it was asked. Bel. To prove my title to his confidence, honour me so far with yours, as to allow me a few minutes conversation in private with you. [She turns to her father. Dud. By all means, Louisa; come, Mr Stockwell, let us go into another room. Cha. And now, major O'Flaherty, I claim your promise of a sight of the paper, that is to unravel this conspiracy of my aunt Rusport's: I think I have waited with great patience. O'Fla. I have been endeavouring to call to mind what it was I overheard-I've got the paper, and will give you the best account I can of the whole transaction. Enter BELCOUR and LOUISA. [Exeunt. Bel. Miss Dudley, I have solicited this audience, to repeat to you my penitence and confusion. How shall I atone? What reparation can I make to you and virtue? Lou. To me there's nothing due, nor any thing demanded of you, but your more favourable opi- Enter O'FLAHERTY, and afterwards DUDLEY nion for the future, if you should chance to think and CHARLES with STOCKWELL. of me. Upon the part of virtue, I'm not empowered to speak; but if, hereafter, as you range through life, you should surprise her in the person of some wretched female, poor as myself, and not so well protected, enforce not your advantage, complete not your licentious triumph, but raise her, rescue her from shame and sorrow, and reconcile her to herself again. Bel. I will, I will: by bearing your idea ever present in my thoughts, virtue shall keep an advocate within me. But tell me, loveliest, when you pardon the offence, can you, all perfect as you are, approve of the offender? As I now cease to view you in that false light I lately did, can you, and, in the fulness of your bounty, will you, cease also to reflect upon the libertine addresses I have paid you, and look upon me as your reformed, your rational admirer? Lou. Are sudden reformations apt to last? and how can I be sure the first fair face you meet will not ensnare affections so unsteady, and that I shall not lose you lightly as I gained you? Bel. Because, though you conquered me by surprise, I have no inclination to rebel; because, since the first moment that I saw you, every instant has improved you in my eyes; because, by principle as well as passion, I am unalterably yours in short, there are ten thousand causes for my love to you would to Heaven 1 could plant one in your soft bosom, that might move you to return it! Lou. Nay, Mr Belcour Bel. I know I am not worthy your regard. I know I'm tainted with a thousand faults, sick of a thousand follies; but there's a healing virtue in your eyes that makes recovery certain. I cannot be a villain in your arms. Lou. That you can never be: whomever you shall honour with your choice, iny life upon't that woman will be happy: it is not from suspicion that I hesitate, it is from honour: 'tis the severity of my condition: it is the world, that never will interpret fairly in our case. Bel. Oh, what am I? and who in this wide world concerns himself for such a nameless, such a friendless thing as I am? I see, Miss Dudley, I've not yet obtained your pardon. Lou. Nay, that you are in full possession of Bel. Oh, seal it with your hand then, loveliest of women; confirm it with your heart; make me honourably happy, and crown your penitent, not with your pardon only, but your love. Lou. My love! Bel. By Heaven, my soul is conquered with your virtues, more than my eyes are ravished with your beauty! Oh, may this soft, this sensitive alarm, be happy, be auspicious! Doubt not, deliberate not, delay not. If happiness be the end of life, why do we slip a moment? O'Fla. Joy, joy, joy! Sing, dance, leap, laugh for joy! Ha' done making love, and fall down on your knees to every saint in the calendar; for they're all on your side, and honest St. Patrick at the head of them. Cha. O Louisa, such an event! By the luckiest chance in life, we have discovered a will of my grandfather's, made in his last illness, by which he cuts off my aunt Rusport with a small annuity, and leaves me heir to his whole estate, with a fortune of fifteen thousand pounds to yourself. Lou. What is it you tell me? O, sir, iustruct me to support this unexpected turn of fortune. [To her father. Dud. Name not fortune; 'tis the work of Providence-'tis the justice of Heaven, that would not suffer innocence to be oppressed, nor your base aunt to prosper in her cruelty and cunning. [A servant whispers BELCOUR, and he goes out.] O'Fla. You shall pardon me, captain Dudley, but you must not overlook St Patrick neither;for, by my soul, if he had not put it into my head to slip behind the screen when your righte teous aunt and the lawyer were plotting toge gether, I don't see how you would ever have come at the paper there, that master Stockwell is reading. Dud. True, my good friend; you are the father of this discovery; but how did you contrive to get this will from the lawyer? O'Fla. By force, my dear-the only way of getting any thing from a lawyer's clutches. Stock. Well, major, when he brings his action of assault and battery against you, the least Dudley can do is, to defend you with the weapons you have put into his hands. Cha. That I am bound to do; and after the happiness I shall have in sheltering a father's age from the vicissitudes of life, my next delight will be in offering you an asylum in the bosom of your country. O'Fla. And upon my soul, my dear, 'tis high time I was there; for 'tis now thirty long years since I set foot in my native country-and, by the power of St Patrick I swear, I think it's worth all the rest of the world put together. Dud. Ay, major, much about that time have I been beating the round of service, and 'twere well for us both to give over: we have stood many a tough gale, and abundance of hard blows; but Charles shall lay us up in a little pri vate, but safe, harbour, where we'll rest from our labours, and peacefully wind up the remainder of our days. O'Fla. Agreed; and you may take it as a proof of my esteem, young man, that major O'Flaherty accepts a favour at your hands-for, Char. O, Charles! you have an honest, but proud heart. by Heaven, I'd sooner starve than say, 'I thank you' to the man I despise. But I believe you are an honest lad, and I am glad you have Cha. Nay, chide me not, dear Charlotte. trounced the old cat-for, on my conscience, I Bel. Seal up her lips, then; she is an adorabelieve I must otherwise have married her my-ble girl; her arms are open to you; and love self, to have let you in for a share of her for- and happiness are ready to receive you. Cha. Thus, then, I claim my dear, my destined wife, [Embracing her. tune. Stock. Hey-day, what's become of Belcour? Lou. One of your servants called him out just now, and seemingly on some earnest occa sion. Stock. Then, I am happy: all my doubts, my cares are over, and I may own him for my son. Why, these are joyful tidings: come, my good friend, assist me in disposing your lovely daughter to accept this returning prodigal: he is no unprincipled, no hardened libertine; his love for you and virtue is the same. Ďud. 'Twere vile ingratitude in me to doubt his merit-What says my child? O Fla. Begging your pardon now, 'tis a frivolous sort of a question, that of yours; for you may see plainly enough, by the young lady's looks, that she says a great deal, though she speaks never a word. Cha. Well, sister, I believe the major has fairly interpreted the state of your heart." Lou. I own it; and what must that heart be, which love, honour and benevolence, like Mr Belcour's, can make no impression on? Stock. I thank you. What happiness has this hour brought to pass ! O'Fla. Why don't we all sit down to supper, then, and make a night on't? Stock. Hold, here comes Belcour. BELCOUR introducing MISS RUSPORT. Bel. Mr Dudley, here is a fair refugee, who properly comes under your protection: she is equipt for Scotland; but your good fortune, which I have related to her, seems inclined to save you both the journey-Nay, madam, never go back; you are amongst friends. Cha. Charlotte! Char. The same; that fond officious girl, that haunts you every where; that persecuting spirit Cha. Say rather, that protecting angel: such you have been to me. VOL II. Enter LADY RUSPORT. Lady Rus. Hey-day! mighty fine! wife truly! mighty well! kissing, embracing—did ever any thing equal this? Why, you shameless hussy! But I won't condescend to waste a word upon you. You, sir, you, Mr Stockwell, you fine, sanctified, fair-dealing man of conscience, is this the principle you trade upon? Is this your neighbourly system, to keep a house of reception for run-away daughters, and young beggarly fortunehunters? O'Fla. Be advised now, and don't put yourself in such a passion; we were all very happy till you came. Lady Rus. Stand away, sir! have not I a reason to be in a passion? O'Fla. Indeed, honey, and you have, if you knew all. Lady Rus. Come, madam, I have found out your haunts; dispose yourself to return home with me. Young man, let me never see you within my doors again. Mr Stockwell, I shall report your behaviour, depend upon it. Stock. Hold, madam; I cannot consent to lose Miss Rusport's company this evening, and I am persuaded you won't insist upon it: 'tis an unmotherly action to interrupt your daughter's happiness in this manner; believe me it is. Lady Rus. Her happiness, truly! upon my word! and I suppose 'tis an unmotherly action to interrupt her ruin; for, what but ruin must it be to marry a beggar? I think my sister had a proof of that, sir, when she made choice of you. [To CAPT. DUDLEY. Dud. Don't be too lavish of your spirits, lady Rusport. O'Fla. By my soul, you'll have occasion for a sip of the cordial elixir, by and by. Stock. It don't appear to me, madam, that Mr Dudley can be called a beggar. Lady Rus. But it appears to me, Mr Stockwell-I am apt to think a pair of colours cannot furnish settlement quite sufficient for the heiress of sir Stephen Rusport. Char. But a good estate, in aid of a commission, may do something. Lady Rus. A good estate, truly! where should he get a good estate, pray? Stock. Why, suppose now a worthy old gentleman, on his death bed, should have taken it in mind to leave him one Lady Rus. Ha! what's that you say? 6 C 6 Stock. Suppose there should be a paper in the world that runs thus I do hereby give and bequeath all my estates, real and personal, to Charles Dudley, son of my late daughter, Lou'isa,' &c. &c. &c. Lady Rus. Why, I am thunderstruck! By what contrivance, what villainy, did you get possession of that paper? Stock. There was no villainy, madam, in getting possession of it: the crime was in concealing it, none in bringing it to light. Lady Rus. Oh, that cursed lawyer, Varland! O'Fla. You may say that, faith! he is a cursed lawyer, and a cursed piece of work I had to get the paper from him. Your ladyship now was to have paid him five thousand pounds for it-I forced him to give it me of his own accord, for nothing at all, at all. Lady Rus. Is it you that have done this? Am I foiled by your blundering contrivances, after all? O'Fla. 'Twas a blunder, faith, but as natural a one as if I had made it o' purpose.. Cha. Come, let us not oppress the fallen; do right even now, and you shall have no cause to complain. Lady Rus. Am I become an object of your pity, then? Insufferable! Confusion light amongst you! Marry and be wretched: let me never see [Exit. Char. She is outrageous; I suffer for her, and blush to see her thus exposed. you more. Cha. Come, Charlotte, don't let this angry woman disturb our happiness: we will save her in spite of herself; your father's memory shall not be stained by the discredit of his second choice. Char. I trust implicitly to your discretion, and am in all things yours. Bel. Now, lovely but obdurate, does not this example soften? Lou. What can you ask for more? Accept my hand, accept my willing heart. "Tis a night of wonderful and surprising ups and downs: I wish we were all fairly set down to supper, and there was an end on't. Stock. Hold for a moment! I have yet one word to interpose-Entitled, by my friendship, to a voice in your disposal, I have approved your match: there yet remains a father's consent to be obtained. Bel. Have I a father! Stock. You have a father: did not I tell you I had a discovery to make? Compose yourself; you have a father, who observes, who knows, who loves you. Bel. Keep me no longer in suspense! my heart is softened for the affecting discovery, and nature fits me to receive his blessing. Stock. I am your father. Bel. It is too much; my happiness overpowers me: to gain a friend, and find a father, is too much: I blush to think how little I deserve you. [They embrace. Dud. See, children, how many new relations spring from this night's unforeseen events, to endear us to each other. O'Fla. O' my conscience, I think we shall be all related by and by. Stock. How happily has this evening concluded, and yet how threatening was its approach! Let us repair to the supper-room, where I will unfold to you every circumstance of my mysterious story. Yes, Belcour, I have watched you with a patient, but inquiring eye; and I have discovered, through the veil of some irregulari ties, a heart beaming with benevolence, an animated nature, fallible, indeed, but not incorrigible; and your election of this excellent young lady makes me glory in acknowledging you to be my son. Bel. I thank you-and, in my turn, glory in the father I have gained: sensibly imprest with gratitude for such extraordinary dispensations, I beseech you, amiable Louisa, for the time to come, whenever you perceive me deviating into Bel. O bliss unutterable! brother, father, error or offence, bring only to my mind the Profriend, and you, the author of this general joy-vidence of this night, and I will turn to reason, O'Fla. Blessings of St Patrick upon us all! and obey. [Exeunt omnes. |