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Enter JULIA, and seats herself in an alcove.

Julia. Here let me rest awhile, and endeavour to collect my scattered thoughts. Could it be believed that my father, strict as his general notions of honour are, should think of forcing me to become the wife of a man whom my soul abhors!

Y. Man. Forcing thee!

Julia. When, too, he is convinc'd of my being attach'd to another.

Y. Man. To another!

Julia. I think he loves me.

Y. Man. I am sure he does-that is, if I am he. Julia. He is kind and generous, capable of the most ardent and disinterested passion.

Y. Man. It must be me.

Julia. But he has faults, great faults.

Y. Man. Now I am sure 'tis me.

Julia. I dread the levity of his nature-Oh, Manly, Manly! why cannot I trust thee?

Y. Man. I am sure I can't tell.

Julia. How gladly cou'd I owe the relief of my present afflictions to thy kindness, but for the dread of being afterwards exposed to the severer calamity of thy indifference! Oh why, why, Manly, cannot I confide in thee?

Y. Man. [Comes forward.] Why indeed! Dear generous Julia, banish these apprehensions, I never can injure truth, innocence, and beauty like thine.

Julia. Mr. Manly! How you have alarmed me! What a rash step is this-But fly, I conjure you; if you have any regard for my happiness-fly.

Y. Man. Fly, Julia? Yes, swifter than a lover's thought; but you must be the partner of my flight. Julia. You cannot surely be serious.

Y. Man. So serious that I shall not stir one single step without you-Julia, Julia, this is no time for trifling or for ceremony. To be candid with you, I have over

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heard you, and if I deserve punishment for the involuntary offence, reserve it till the danger is over that threatens you.

Julia. Indeed, Mr. Manly, your generous concern for me leaves me as little right, as I have inclination to be severe, but therefore it is I intreat you to quit this scene of danger-You know the fury of my relations.

Y. Man. Nay, Julia, I care not how soon I go-As we depart together you cannot reasonably suspect me of being an advocate for delay.

Julia. What can you mean?

Y. Man. Mean!-Why to decide my fate on the instant-Either to follow you as your humble slave through the wide world of happiness, for it can have no place in it forbidden to delight while you are with me, or meet with resignation, on the spot, the bitterest resentment of your vindictive family.

Julia. Oh! Manly, give me not such a fatal proof of your affection—I will consider of your proposal by tomorrow-but go now, I beseech you.

Y. Man. Not a step-If I am stubborn, Julia, you are my example. I have not often such authority for my conduct-I will not quit you till I am assured of your deliverance from this unnatural tyranny.

Julia. Hear me for a moment-I do not wish to conceal from you how much my gratitude is interested in your safety-The embarrassment of my present situation, added to this dangerous evidence of your attachment, will, I hope, in some measure, excuse me for the confession I am about to- -But, indeed, sir, indeed-what shall I say? A womanish apprehension prevails over my tongue, and sways it from the direction of my heart, in spite of me-Indeed, I cannot go with you-Character, prudence, duty forbid it.

Y. Man. I confess, madam, I was prepared to expect more candour and more decision from the lips of Miss Wingrove./

Julia. Dear Manly, I thank you for this rebuke–it brings me back to myself-something must be allowed to the fond agitation of a woman's fears-but they are gone; Love himself, unfriendly as he is to truth, yet smiles propitiously upon a slow obedience to it at last.— Meet me at one, in the avenue before our house, and then with more safety to my Henry, as well as more security to our enterprise, I will resign myself and all my hopes to your faithful guidance.

Y. Man. Dearest Julia, on my knees I thank youI am oppressed at once with love and gratitude-It is needless to say with what anxious vigilant punctuality I will obey your mandate-with what idolatry of submissive affection, I will watch over every rising thought, and half-formed object of your future life. [Rises. ] From this moment, then, dismiss all apprehension of your Henry's levity, and be satisfied that

Julia. I am satisfied-Surely, I have proved I am so -But interesting as your conversation always is, and on this theme fraught with peculiar endearment, I must deprive myself of it-You must go-pray obey me now-My turn for obedience approaches fast. Remember.

Y. Man. Can I forget the consecrated moment! Adieu, ever dearest, till then.

Julia. Adieu, dear Manly.

[Exeunt.

Scene III.-Lord Dartford's House.

Enter LORD DARTFORD, followed by JENKINS.

Lord D. Jenkins, does Sir William know of my arrival here?

Jen. He does, my lord.

Lord D. Well, I suppose I must pay the first visitBut hold, should not I brush up my style a little, to

enable me to undergo this encounter of genealogy? No -I believe there is no occasion; the secret lies in a short compass-Pedigree's the word—and one of your real accurate lovers of historical virtû-will believe any thing-And so, we'll trust to chance and the assistance of such convenient absurdities as may happen to arise [A knocking at the door.]-But see who's there, Jenkins.

[JENKINS goes, and introduces SIR WILLIAM WINGrove.

Sir Will. I hope, my lord, my presence, thus unannounced, does not interrupt any of your lordship's weightier concerns.

Lord D. It is impossible that the favour of Sir William Wingrove's company can ever be felt as an

intrusion.

Sir Will. Your lordship is kindness itself-[They sit down.] It is a doubtful point with me, my lord, in the alliance which is upon the eve of accomplishment, by which party the honour will be given or received.

for

Lord D. So he's off already there's but one way me--I should ill deserve my good fortune, Sir William, were I not sensible that the honour and the happiness are both eminently mine.

Sir Will. Why, my lord, that is by no means a clear case-I perceive that your lordship possesses a very competent knowledge of the antiquity of our family; but to deal candidly with you, I believe yours takes its rise nearly about the same time-pretty nearly; that is to say-I mean within a century of us, or some such trifle-I dare for the Dartford family may it does; say be very clearly traced to the conquest.

Lord D. The conquest, Sir William, is modern-It is not long since I perused a valuable manuscript, that makes very honourable mention of the Wingroves, in one of the remoter reigns of the Saxon Heptarchy.

Sir Will. Could your lordship procure me a sight of that manuscript? The favour will be infinite.

Lord D. Sir William may rely upon it, that if my friend can be prevailed upon to resign the parchment, I shall be happy in promoting his wish. [Aside.] And if he does, his politeness must positively be of a most accommodating cast, to enable him to part with what he never had.

Sir Will. In one of the remoter reigns of the Saxon Heptarchy! Is it possible! But why not possible?—To what times may not the family of the Wingroves be traced by the laudable diligence of learned inquiry? Even up to the dark periods of early nature, of rudeness, ignorance, and barbarity, where Knowledge fails us, and History herself is lost in the confusion of her materials. [Muses.

Lord D. Now will he not be content till he has pursued his high birth to the illustrious parentage of a savage, and drawn the boasted stream of his pure blood from the polluted leavings of the deluge.

Sir Will. Now, my lord, to business-The fifty thousand pounds which I purpose as my daughter's dower, is but a small, and indeed inadequate, compensation for the honour of your dignified alliance-Happy, but too happy, should we all feel ourselves, if her inclinations accorded with our wishes, and acquiesced in the brilliant provision we have made for her-But she is perverse, my lord, unaccountably perverse-Yet submit she shall, and that without delay-I am fixed, immutably fixed -But if your lordship will do me the honour to accompany me to my house, I will there explain to your lordship the difficulties we have to encounter, and the expedients we have provided to overcome them-Nay, my lord[Contending on the etiquette of precedency. Lord D. Impossible, Sir William! mere title is adventitious, birth inherent. [Exeunt.

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