Julia. Do not, I beseech you, sir, let your generous compassion for me lead you into danger; the bare idea. of such a consequence would compel me to forego the comfort of your hospitable protection.

Adm. Oh, don't let your little fearful heart begin conjuring up vexations, it'll do me a great deal of good -make my blood circulate-I have been too long out of action-a vast while too long―I am mere still water -spoiling for want of motion—a little hurricane or two will shake me clear again. I want a bit of a storm for the quiet of my old days, and a little wholesome danger will promote the safety of my health, so away with your fears, my little light fing-'Sblood! I was getting on the old tack again.

Julia. But, dear sir.

Adm. Do, Rachel, tell her what an obstinate old fellow I am, and that it is only wasting her ammunition to oppose me.

Mrs. Rach. There is so much generosity, brother, in the substance of what you say, that I have no inclination to dispute about the expression of it. Miss Wingrove, if you please, you shall lay aside this dress.

Julia. Gladly, madam.

Adm. Come, young lady, let me be your conductor; and they that can make prize of British beauty when under the convoy of a British admiral, must have more weight of metal about them than the whole bulk of your lubberly relations, saving your presence, in a body—so cheerly, my little angel-bear up-" Bless'd isle with beauty, &c." [Singing.]

[Exeunt.

Scene changes to Lord Dartford's House.

LORD DARTFORD and JENKINS.

Lord D. So this triumph of my attractions, as I had so naturally believed, was a sham after all-Death, how

dared this saucy baggage venture to set her pert wits on so hazardous a deception-but my turn may come, and if she should marry this bouncer Wingrove, and grow disgusted with him, which of course must be the case, it will be in vain that she turns her eyes to me, I assure her-But what's to be done in this affair?

Jen. Can't your lordship disown having sent any proposal to Miss Herbert?

Lord D. How can I do that; you delivered the letter, did'nt you?

Jen. Yes, my lord, but he must be a very indifferent servant whose memory cannot fail him a little, for the advantage of his master.

Lord D. Well, we must consign that difficulty to the eclaircissement of time and better fortune-but in the interim this refusal of Miss Herbert's makes it of importance to recover this wandering nymph as soon as possible. Did Thomas, do you say, trace a young gentleman, resembling Miss Wingrove, to Admiral Cleveland's?

Jen. He did, my lord, and was almost certain it was herself.

Lord D. If it should prove so, and she obtains shelter there, I think it might be easy to watch for her in the garden, and steal her thence, but first the admiral must be watched out though-remember that;-there may be danger else,

Jen. That's one of the cases, my lord, in which my memory never fails me.

Lord D. Well then, let's about it instantly-If I could meet with the lady, there is no harsh treatment to her that the old baronet will not interpret into respect for him; and as for the swaggerer, his son, let him know of my attempt upon his mistress, when I am married to his sister, with all my heart-Decency will prevent him from killing me then, and as for his opinion, as that is innocent of any effect upon the body, we must endeavour to endure it.

[Exeunt.

Scene III.-Miss Herbert's.

Miss Her. I don't know how it is, but I feel a sort of uneasiness about me, as if something had happened to vex me. What can it be? forgetful creature that I am -Miss Wingrove's distresses, to be sure. Yet that is not a novelty at the present moment; and then the persevering absurdity of her lofty brother-ha! ha!Sits the wind in that quarter? Well, I can't help it. I am afraid he is not quite indifferent to me; yet I must tame him out of this unreasonable haughtiness before marriage, that he may be entitled to the just pride of a husband when he becomes one.

Enter WINGROVE.

Bless me, how came you here?—Always stealing upon one!

Win. I am so truly asham'd, madam-I cannot

Miss Her. Come, sir, there is an eloquent humility in your manner that speaks for you. I have once before to-day construed your meaning; and I begin to flatter myself I shall not be a less faithful interpreter now, when I suppose that you are indeed a penitent for the treatment to which you have expos'd your sister. Win. Indeed, indeed, I am so.

Miss Her. I am rejoic'd to hear it. You have read the letter I gave you?

Win. I have, madam.

Miss Her. Well, in all this wide world of caprice and uncertainty there is but one thing infallible. Win. What is that?

Miss Her. That!-Why that a man of rank never violates his plighted honour, and that birth involves in human virtue.

it

every

Win. Perfidious scoundrel-I'll tear him piecemeal. Miss Her. Tear your own prejudices from your heart, Mr. Wingrove.

Win. They are gone, madam; and I have no other proof that they ever had an existence in my bosom, but the mortified sensibility which they have left behind them.

Miss Her. Come, sir, keep up your spirits; you will do charmingly, I am convinc'd.

Win. Nay; I am not now a convert to your opinion, my Harriet.

Miss Her. What, a relapse?

Win. No, I only mean to say, this is not the first time of my life in which I have thought as you do. Reason has had many ineffectual struggles with prejudice in my mind upon this subject before. But, henceforth, I disclaim all reverence for such idle superstitions-I despise birth, and all the vanities which attend it.

Miss Her. Now, Mr. Wingrove, I do not think so well of your case as I did. I am, myself, no peevish, morose caviller at birth. It is always graceful, and often useful; when it operates as a motive to a kind and honourable emulation with the illustrious dead; but when those who possess the advantage, endeavour to make it a substitute for every other excellence, then indeed I think the offender is entitled to no gentler sentiment than my contempt, or my pity.

Win. My Harriet shall, from this time, regulate my opinions in every thing-and now may I hope-————

Miss Her. Not now, not now!-Go home and be upon the watch to avail yourself of the first opportunity to reconcile every thing. Let this be the first probation of your recovery; and if, when next we meet, I should find matters in a way that promises general happiness, perhaps I may not be so cruel to myself as to deny you the civility of partaking in it. [Exeunt separately,

Win. Charming Harriet!

Scene IV-The Admiral's Garden.

Enter MRS. Rachel, Welford, and Young Manly. Mrs. Rach. Excuse me, Mr. Manly, Miss Wingrove's feelings have been lately too much agitated for me to suffer her to be exposed to new conflicts.

Y. Man. Madam, I came here to satisfy my anxious doubts about Miss Wingrove's safety; being once assured of that, I resign myself to the despair I have so justly merited. [Walks off.

Wel. Nay-but, madam, don't let your generous compassion for the fair sufferer entirely prevail over the penitent misery of the offender-let them but meet, and leave the rest to chance.

Mrs. Rach. Well, sir, if I can prevail, Mr. Manly shall see Miss Wingrove-but let him understand I will not have her urged upon any point, and the length of the interview must be entirely left to her own pleasure and discretion.

Wel. It shall, madam-I engage for his obedience in every thing. [Exit MRS. RACHEL.] Come, Manly, throw away your despair. Mrs. Cleveland is gone to bring in your Julia.

Y. Man. Call her back, I beseech you. I dare not meet my injured love-Call her back, I intreat you; though I feel this kindness from you, Welford, with double force, after my late behaviour to you-how could I suspect you?

Wel. No more of that-here she comes without my trouble, and with her-shall I send them back?

Enter MRS. RACHEL and JULIA.

[As soon as they see each other MANLY kneels, and JULIA reclines on MRS. RACHEL.]

Y. Man. Oh! Julia.

Julia. Mr. Manly!

Y. Man. Oh! my lov'd Julia, I dare not approach