Beo. Belinda!-you will not wound me thus. Here is the picture which caused that unlucky mistake between us. I have recovered it from Sir John Restless. Belin. From my Lady Restless, sir?

Bev. Madam !

Thus on my

Belin. Oh! fie, sir: no more; I have done. Beo. You must, you must accept it. knees I beg you. Will you, Belinda? [Takes her hand. Belin. Leave me, sir: let go my hand, Mr. Beverley: your falsehood

Bev. My falsehood! By all the

Belin. Your falsehood, sir: Sir John Restless has told me all; every circumstance.

Bev. He has told you! what has he told? His life shall answer it.

Belin. You have destroyed my peace of mind for ever. Nay, you yourself have forced me into the arms of another.

Bev. What do I hear?

Belin. My Lady Restless will rejoice at the news: the event will not be unpleasing to her; but she is welcome let her enjoy her triumph.

Bev. You astonish me, Belinda: what does all this mean?

Belin. It means, that, in obedience to the commands of a father, I have agreed to marry Mr. Bellmont.

Bev. Mr. Bellmont!--him!-marry him! it is very well, ma'am: I expected it would come to this; and my Lady Restless is only mentioned on this occasion, as a retort for my accusation about Sir John. I understand it; and, by heaven! I believe that whole story. Belin. You do, sir!

Ber. I do: fool that I was to humble myself to you. My pride is now piqued, and I am glad, madam, as glad as you can be, to break off for ever.

Belin. O, sir, I can be as indifferent on my part.You have only to send me back my letters, and

Eev. Agreed! agreed !-I'll go home this moment, and send them all.-Before I go, madam, here is your own picture, which you had given me with your own hands. Mr. Bellmont will be glad of it;—or Sir John Restless will be glad of it ;-or any body will be glad of it ;-you need not be at a loss.

Eelin. Very like, sir. [Takes the picture.] Tyrant, tyrant man! to treat me in this barbarous manner! [Cries.

Bev. Tears, Belinda! [Approaching.] Belinda! Eelin. No more of your insidious arts-I will hear no more.-Oh! my heart, my heart will break! I did not think it was in your nature to behave as you have done;-but-farewell, for ever! [Exit.

Bev. Belinda! hear me but speak. By heaven, my Lady Restless-She is gone; 'sdeath, I have been duped by her all this time!-I will now summon up all that is man within me, and, in my turn, despise her.

Enter TIPPET.

Tip. If you are going home, sir, I will take the things with me now.

Bev. Yes, I am going;- I will leave this de

tested

Tip. This abominable place, sir.
Bev. This hell!

Tip. Ha, ha!-Ay, sir, this hell.

[Laughing at him.

Bev. This mansion of perfidy, ingratitude, and fraud! Tip. Very right, sir; let us go.

Bev. And yet-Tippet, you must not stir.-Indulge me but a little. It is all a misunderstanding, this.

Tip. My lady will have no more to say to you.— You may take the things, sir; my lady resigns them to you, sir.

Bev. O, Tippet! use your interest with her. Keep them in the house till I return. I will clear up this whole matter presently.—I must not lose her thus.

[Exit.

Tip. Poor gentleman! he seems in a lamentable way. -Well, I fancy, for my part, he is a true lover after all, that's what I do; and my young lady, I fear, is

Enter BELINDA.

Tip. Madam, madam, madam, you are to blame; you are, indeed.

Belin. Is he gone?

Tip. He is, ma'am.

Belin. Quite gone?

Tip. Yes.

Belin. An abominable man, not to stay.-Did he say any thing?-Was he uneasy?—Or did he carry it off with a

Tip. O, madam! he went away, sighing short, his heart throbbing, his eyes brimful, his looks pale. You are to blame, you are indeed, madam.—I dare be sworn, he has never proved false.

Belin. O, Tippet, could I be sure of that!

Tip. But you are not sure of the contrary.-Why won't you see my Lady Restless? See her directly, madam; go to her now, before it is too late ;-before the old folks, who are putting their heads together, have settled the whole affair.-Dear ma'am, be advised.-I hear them coming.-They will hurry you into a match, and you'll repent of it.- -How cruel this is! they

come.- -No, it's Madam Clarissa.

Enter CLARISSA.

-Here

Clar. So, Belinda, you have thrown things into fine confusion. You have involved yourself, and my brother, and Mr. Bellmont, and every body, in most terrible difficulties.

Belin. My dear Clarissa, here have been such doings between your brother and me!

Clar. So I find.—I met him as I came hither.-You VOL. III.

Y

have had fine doings, indeed. I have heard the whole; -my brother has told me every thing.

Tip. Madam, madam! I hear your father. Sir William Bellmont is with him :-they are coming up stairs. Belin. I am not in a disposition to see them now.— Clarissa, suspend your judgment;-step with me to my own room, and I will then give you such reasons as, you will own yourself, sufficiently justify my conduct.

Clar. The reasons must be ingenious, that can make any kind of apology for such behaviour. I shall be glad to hear you.

Belin. Very well, follow me quickly.-You will find that my resolution is not so rash as you imagine.

[Exit with CLArissa. Tip. They have got into a rare puzzle, and how they will get out of it, is beyond my dexterity; and so let 'em manage as well as they can.

Enter BLANDFORD, SIR WILLIAM, and YOUNG Bellmont.

Bland. Well, Sir William, we have made a good day's work of it:-the writings will be ready to-morrow morning.-Where is Belinda? I thought she was in this room.

Tip. She is gone to her own room, sir: she is not well.

Sir W. She has changed her mind, perhaps :-I shall have no faith in this business, till it is all concluded.

Bland. Changed her mind! say you? No, no; I can depend upon her. I'll bring her to you this moment, and you and your son shall hear a declaration of her mind out of her own lips.-Tippet, where is Belinda? Tip. I'll show you the way, sir.

[Exit with BLAndford. Sir W. Now we shall see what authority you have over your daughter.-I have your promise, George; if she consents, you will be ready to comply with the wishes of your father?

Bell. Sir, you may depend-that is, as far as matters are in my power :-but, you know, as I told you already, the lady has a settled, rooted aversion to me.

Sir W. Aversion!-she can change her mind, can't she? Women have no settled principle. They like to-day, and dislike to-morrow.-Besides, has not her father promised her to you in marriage?-If the old gentleman likes you, what have you to do with her aversion?

Bell. To do with it? A great deal, I am afraid.— You are not now to learn, that, when a young lady marries against her inclination, billet-doux, assignations, plots, intrigues, and a terrible et cætera of female stratagem, mount into her brain, and the poor husband

in the meantime

Sir W. Come, lad, don't play the rogue with your father. Did not you promise me, if she made no objection, that there would be no obstacle on your part? Bell. I promised, to be sure, but yet I can't help thinking

Sir W. And I can't help thinking that you know how to equivocate. Look you, George, your words were plain downright English, and I expect that you will perform to the very letter. I have fixed my heart upon this match. Mr. Blandford and I have passed the day at the Crown and Rolls, to read over the deeds. I have been dining upon parchment, as I may say. I now tell you once for all, you must be observant of my will and pleasure.

Bell. To end all dispute, sir, if the lady[Aside.] She will never consent; I may safely promise.-If the lady, sir, can at once forget her engagements with my friend Beverley

Sir W. You will then forget Clarissa: fairly spoken. Come, I am satisfied. And now, now we shall see.