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and revenge-Ruin the husband, and the wife's virtue may be bid for.

Enter BATES.

Look to your men, Bates; there's money stirring.We meet to-night upon this spot. Hasten, and tell them. Beverley calls upon me at my lodgings, and we return together.-Hasten, I say, the rogues will scatter else.

Bates. Not till their leader bids them.

Stuke. Come on, then-Give them the word, and follow me; I must advise with you-This is a day of business, [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

BEVERLEY'S Lodgings.

Enter BEVERLEY and CHArlotte.

Char. Your looks are changed too;-there's wildness in them. My wretched sister! How will it grieve her to see you thus!

Bev. No, no; a little rest will ease me. And for your Lewson's kindness to her it has

have no more to give him.

my thanks; I

Char. Yes; a sister and her fortune. I trifle with him, and he complains-My looks, he says, are cold upon him. He thinks too

Beo. That I have lost your fortune-He dares not think so.

Char. Nor does he-you are too quick at guessing He cares not if you had. That care is mine-I lent it you to husband, and now I claim it.

Bev. You have suspicions then?

Char. Cure them, and give it me.
Bev. To stop a sister's chidings?
Char. To vindicate her brother.
Bev. How if he needs no vindication?
Char. I would fain hope so.

Bev. Ay, would and cannot-Leave it to time, then; 'twill satisfy all doubts.

-Char. Mine are already satisfied.

Bev. 'Tis well. And when the subject is renewed, speak to me like a sister, and I will answer like a brother.

Char. To tell me I'm a beggar.-Why, tell it now. I, that can bear the ruin of those dearer to me-the ruin of a sister and her infant, can bear that too. Bev. No more of this-you wring my heart.

Char. Unthinking rioter!-whose home was heaven to him! an angel dwelt there, and a little cherub, that crown'd his days with blessings.-How he has lost this heaven, to league with devils!

Bev. Forbear, I say; reproaches come too late ;they search, but cure not. And, for the fortune you demand, we'll talk to-morrow on't-our tempers may be milder.

Char. Or, if 'tis gone, why, farewell all. But I'll upbraid no more. What Heaven permits, perhaps it may ordain. Yet, that the husband, father, brother, should be its instruments of vengeance !-'Tis grievous to know that!

Bev. If you're my sister, spare the remembrance it wounds too deeply. To-morrow shall clear all; and when the worst is known, it may be better than your fears. Comfort my wife; and for the pains of absence I'll make atonement.

Char. She comes!-Look cheerfully upon herAffections such as hers are prying, and lend those eyes that read the soul.

Enter MRS BEVERLEY and LEWSON.

Mrs Bev. My life!

Bev. My love! how fares it? I have been a truant husband.

Mrs Bev. But we meet now, and that heals allDoubts and alarms I have had; but in this dear embrace I bury and forget them. My friend here, [Pointing to LEWSON.] has been indeed a friend. Charlotte, 'tis you must thank him: your brother's thanks and mine are of too little value.

Bev. Yet what we have we'll I thank you, pay. sir, and am obliged. I would say more, but that your goodness to the wife upbraids the husband's follies. Had I been wise, she had not trespassed on your bounty.

Lew. Nor has she trespassed. The little I have done acceptance overpays.

Char. So friendship thinks

Mrs Bev. And doubles obligations by striving to conceal them-We'll talk another time on't-You are too thoughtful, love.

Bev. No, I have reason for these thoughts.

Char. And hatred for the cause

that too!

-'Would you had

Bev. I have- The cause was avarice.
Char. And who the tempter?

Bev. A ruined friend-ruined by too much kind

ness.

Lew. Ay, worse than ruined; stabbed in his fame, mortally stabbed-riches can't cure him.

Bev. Or, if they could, those I have drained him of. Something of this he hinted in the morning-that Lewson had suspicions of him-Why these suspicions? [Angrily.

Lew. At school we knew this Stukely. A cunning, plodding boy he was, sordid and cruel, slow at his

task, but quick at shifts and tricking. He schemed out mischief, that others might be punished; and would tell his tale with so much art, that for the lash he merited, rewards and praise were given him. Show me a boy with such a mind, and time, that ripens manhood in him, shall ripen vice tooI'll prove him, and lay him open to you-Till then, be warned-I know him, and therefore shun him.

Bev. As I would those that wrong him.-You are too busy, sir.

Mrs Bev. No, not too busy-Mistaken, perhaps That had been milder.

Lew. No matter, madam. I can bear this, and praise the heart that prompts it-Pity such friendship should be so placed!

Bev. Again, sir! But I'll bear too-You wrong him, Lewson, and will be sorry for❜t.

Char. Ay, when 'tis proved he wrongs him. The world is full of hypocrites.

Bev. And Stukely one-so you would infer, I think. I'll hear no more of this-my heart aches for him-I have undone him.

Lew. The world says otherwise.

Bev. The world is false then-I have business with you, love. [To MRS BEVERLEY.] We'll leave them to their rancour. [Going. Char. No; we shall find room within for't.-Come this way, sir. [To LEWSON. Lew. Another time my friend will thank me; that time is hastening too.

[Exeunt LEWSON and CHARLOtte. Bev. They hurt me beyond bearing-Is Stukely false! Then honesty has left us! 'Twere sinning against Heaven to think so.

Mrs Bev. I never doubted him.

Bev. No; you are charity. Meekness and everduring patience live in that heart, and love that knows no change. Why did I ruin you?

Mrs Bev. You have not ruined me.

I have no

wants when you are present, nor wishes in your absence, but to be blest with your return. Be but resigned to what has happened, and I am rich beyond the dreams of avarice.

Bev. My generous girl!

-But memory will be busy; still crowding on my thoughts, to sour the present by the past. I have another

pang too.

Mrs Bev. Tell it, and let me cure it.

Bev. That friend-that generous friend, whose fame they have traduced-I have undone him too. While he had means, he lent me largely ; and now a prison must be his portion.

Mrs Bev. No; I hope otherwise..

Bev. To hope must be to act. The charitable wish feeds not the hungry-Something must be done. Mrs Bev. What?

Bev. In bitterness of heart he told me, just now he told me, I had undone him. Could I hear that, and think of happiness? No; I have disclaimed it while he is miserable.

Mrs Bev. The world may mend with us, and then we may be grateful. There's comfort in that hope. Bev. Ay; 'tis the sick man's cordial, his promised cure; while, in preparing it, the patient dies-What now?

Enter Lucy.

Lucy. A letter, sir.
Bev. The hand is Stukely's.

[Delivers it, and exit.

[Opens it, and reads it to himself. Mrs Bev. And brings good news-at least I'll hope says he, love?

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Bev. Why this too much for patience. Yet he directs me to conceal it from you. [Reads.] Let your haste to see me be the only proof of your esteem for me. I have determined, since we parted, to bid adieu to England; chusing rather to forsake my country, than owe

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