natural intelligence. Just when I was saying a thousand civil things to myself on my success, to have my mine sprung before my eyes by the enemy; and instead of serving my friend and myself, become a mere tool to old Gravity's revenge! Pshaw! however, we must make the best of a bad matter.- -Woodville,

what do'st mean to do, man?

Wood. Let them produce my Cecilia!-I will then seize and protect her to the last moment of my life. Capt. Har. And I will assist you to the last moment of mine.

Wood. My generous cousin! this is indeed friendship. Capt. Har. Not so very generous, if you knew all.

Re-enter LORD GLENMORE and the GOVERNOR, with BRIDGET holding a handkerchief to her eyes, VANE following; WOODVILLE flies and clasps her in his arms; HARCOURT

takes her hand.

Wood. My love! my life!-Do I once again behold thee?-Fear nothing!-you here are safe from all the world!-Will you not bless me with one look?

Brid. [Looking at him and HARCOURT with ridiculous distress.] Oh, dear me!

Lord G. I have put it out of your power to marry, sir, otherwise you may take her.

Wood. Take her!-What poor farce is this?

Capt. Har. Hey-day! more incomprehensibilities. Vane. [Aside.] Now for the éclaircissement-since, if the Governor doesn't acknowledge her in his first rage and confusion, I may never be able to make him! -I humbly hope Mr. Woodville will pardon me, if, with her own consent and my lord's, I this morning married this young lady.

Gov. Zounds, you dog, what's that?-you married. her? Why, how did you dare?-And you too, my lord!-what the devil, did you consent to this?

Vane. Believe me, sir, I didn't then know she was your daughter.

Lord G. Daughter!

Gov. So, it's out, after all:-It's a lie, you dog! you did know she was my daughter ;—you all knew it ; -you all conspired to torment me!

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Gov. Ha, ha, ha! confound your mirth!-as if I had not plagues enough already.—And you have great reason to grin too, my lord, when you have thrown my gawky on your impudent valet.

Lord G. Who could ever have dreamt of-Ha, ha, ha!-of finding this your little wonder of the country, brother?

Capt. Har. Nay, my lord, she's the little wonder of the town, too.

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Gov. Mighty well,-mighty well,-mighty well;pray take your whole laugh out, good folks; since this is, positively, the last time of my entertaining you in this manner. A cottage shall henceforth be her portion, and a rope mine.

Brid. If you are my papa, I think you might give some better proof of your kindness;-but I shan't stir; -Why, I married on purpose that I might not care for you.

Gov. Why, thou eternal torment! my original sin! -whose first fault was the greatest frailty of woman; and whose second, her greatest folly! do'st thou, or the designing knave who has entrapped thee merely for that purpose, imagine my wealth shall ever reward incontinence and ingratitude?—No; go knit stockings to some regiment, where he is preferred to be drummer!— yourself when the sun shines!-soak ev'ry hardearned crust in your own tears, and repent at leisure. [Exit, in a rage.

warm

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Lord G. He to ridicule my mode of education !But what is the meaning of all this?

Wood. Truly, my lord, I believe it would be very hard to find any for either my uncle's words or actions. -I am equally at a loss to guess as to Bridget, here. Vane. Hey, what? Bridget, did you say, sir-Why, you little ugly witch, are you really Bridget?

Brid. Why I told you so all along; but you wou'dn't

believe me.

All. Ha, ha, ha!

Brid. Oh, dear heart!-I am now as much afeard of my new husband as father.

Lord G. For thee, wench

Brid. [Pops upon her knees.] Oh, no more locking up, for goodness sake, my lord!-I be sick enough of passing for a lady. But, if old Scratch ever puts such a trick again in my head, I hope-your lordship will catch me !-that's all.

[Exit.

Vane. I shall run distracted! Have I married anand all for nothing, too?

Lord G. A punishment peculiarly just, as it results from abusing my confidence.-Hence, wretch! nor ever, while you live, appear again in my presence.

[Exit VANE, looking furiously after BRIDGET. Lord G. "Tis time to return to ourselves. We shall soon come to an éclaircissement, Woodville!-Since you won't marry, I will.

Wood. My lord!

Lord G. And you shall judge of my choice. [Exit. Capt. Har. Now for it;-whatever devil diverts himself among us to-day, I see he owes my sagacious lord here a grudge, as well as the rest; and I foresee that his wife and ne Governor's daughter will prove equally entertaining.

Enter LORD GLENMORE leading CECILIA, followed by Miss MORTIMER.

Lord G. This lady, sir, I have selected; --a worthy choice.

Wood. I dream, surely !-that lady your choice?your's?

Lord G. Ungrateful son! had such been your'sWood. Why, this very angel is mine-my Cecilia, my first, my only love!

Lord G. How!

Cec. Yes, my lord!-you now know the unhappy object at once of your resentment, contempt, and admiration! My own misfortunes I had learnt to bear, but those of Woodville overpower me!—I deliver myself up to your justice; content to be ev'ry way his victim, so I am not his ruin.

Lord G. But to find you in this house

Cec. Your generous nephew, and the amiable Miss Mortimer, distinguish'd me with the only asylum could shelter me from your son!

Lord G. They distinguished themselves!Oh, Woodville! did I think, an hour ago, I could be more angry with you? How durst you warp a mind so noble ?

Wood. It is a crime my life cannot expiate,-yet, if the sincerest anguish

Lord G. I have one act of justice still in my power; -my prejudice in favour of birth, and even a stronger prejudice, is corrected by this lovely girl:-—of her goodness of heart, and greatness of mind, I have had incontestible proofs, and, if I thought you, Frank

Cec. Yet stay, my lord! nor kill me with too much kindness.-Once your generosity might have made me happy, now only miserable.-My reason, my pride, nay, even my love, induces me to refuse, as the only way to prove I deserve him!—he has taught me to know the world too late, nor will I retort on him the contempt I have incurred.-Mr. Woodville will tell you whether I have not solemnly vow'd

Wood. Not to accept me without the consent of both fathers; and if mine consents, what doubt

GOVERNOR, without.

Stop that old man! stop that mad parson! stop him!

GREY, without.

Nothing shall stop me in pursuit of my―[Enters.] Ha! she is she is here indeed!

length directed me to her.

Providence has at

[Runs to CECILIA.

Cec. My father! covered with shame, let me sink

before you.

Lord G. and Capt. Har: Her father!

Enter GOVERNOR.

Grey. Rise, my glorious girl! rise, purified and forgiven! Rise to pity, with me, the weak minds that know not all thy value, and venerate the noble ones that do.

Gov. Hey! is it possible? Grey, is this my

Grey. Yes, sir; this is your Cecilia, my Cecilia, the object of your avowed rejection and contempt!

Gov. Rejection and contempt! Stand out of the way -let me embrace my daughter-let me take her once more to my heart. [Runs and embraces her.

Lord G. His daughter!

Gov. Yes, my friend, this is really my daughtermy own Cecilia, as sure as I am an old fool after being a young one. This good girl has a right to call me by the name of father-hasn't she, Grey?-Why, my lord, this is the very parson I told you of!-[Taking CECILIA'S arm under his.] And now, young sir, what do you say uncle's freaks?

to your

Wood. Say, sir?-that had you ten thousand such, I would go through a patriarchal servitude, in hopes of Cecilia's hand for my reward.

Gov. And, had I ten millions of money, and this only girl, thou should'st have her, and that, too, for thy noble freedom!And what says my Cecilia to her father's first gift?