Luc. Nay, I insist upon your staying.

Now, ma

lice, stand my friend! [Aside.] —— Good morning to you, sir, you're welcome to town,

Enter TYRREL.

Tyr. I thank you.-I am wrong, I believe; your servant should not have shewn me in here; 'tis with Miss Aubrey I request to speak

Luc. Lord Abberville, you can direct Mr. Tyrrel to Miss Aubrey :—she has left this family, sir.

Tyr. Madam-my lord-I beg to know- I don't understand

Lord Abb. Nor I, upon my soul:-was ever any thing so malicious?

[Aside. Luc. My lord, why don't you speak; Mr. Tyrrel "may have particular business with Miss Aubrey.

Lord Abb. Why do you refer to me? How should I know any thing of Miss Aubrey }

Lite. Nay, I ask pardon; perhaps Mr. Tyrrel's was a mere visit of compliment.

Tjr. Excuse me, madam; I confess it was an er. rand of the most serious sort.

Luc. Then it's cruel not to tell him where you've plac'd her.

Tyr. Plac'd her!

Lord Abb. Ay, plac'd her indeed!-For Heaven's sake, what are you about?

Luc. Nay, I have done, my lord; but after last night's fatal discovery, I conceived you would no

longer affect any privacy as to your situation with Miss Aubrey.

Tyr. What did you discover last night, madam, tell me? I have an interest in the question.

Luc. I'm sorry for it, for then you'll not be pleased to hear that she admits Lord Abberville by night into her bed-room, locks him up in it, and on detection the next morning, openly avows her guilt, by eloping to her gallant.

Tyr. What do I hear?-My lord, my lord, if this is true

Lord Abb. What then?-What if it is?--Must I account to you? Who makes you my inquisitor?

Tyr. Justice, humanity, and that control which virtue gives me over its opposers.-if more you would, with anguish, I confess my heart unhappily was placed on her whom you have ruin'd:-now you'll not dispute my right.

Lord Abb. This is no place to urge your right? I shall be found at home.

Tyr. I'll wait upon you there.

[Exit. Miss Bridge

Lord Abb. Do so-your servant. ——— 'more, I am infinitely your debtor for this agreeable visit; I leave you to the enjoyment of your many amiable virtues, and the pleasing contemplation of what may probably ensue from the interview you have provided for me with Mr. Tyrrel.

[Exit. Luc. Ha, ha, ha!- must be less or more than woman, if I did not relish this retaliation.

[Exit.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

The Street, with a distant View of a Square. Enter COLIN.

Colin.

Ан, Colin! thou'rt a prodigal; a thriftless loon thouʼst been, that cou’dna' keep a little pelf to thysall when thou had'st got it: now thou may'st gang in this poor geer till thy life's end—and worse too, for aught I can tell.-'Faith, mon, 'twas a smeart little bysack of money thou had'st scrap'd together, and the best part of it had na' been laft amongst thy kinsfolk in the isles of Skey and Mull;-muckle gude may it do the weams of them that ha' it!-There was Jamie Mac Gregor, and Sawney Mac Nab, and the twa braw lads of Kinruddin, with old Charley Mac Dougall, my mother's first husband's second cousin :-by my saul I cou'd na' see such near relations, and gentlemen of sic auncient families, gang upon bare feet, while I rode a horseback:-I had been na' true Scot, an I cou'd na' ge'en a countryman a gude laft upon [Going.

occasion.

Enter Miss AUGUSTA AUBREY.

Aug. That house is Mr. Mortimer's; and yet I cann't resolve to go to it to appeal to Tyrrel is à dangerous step; it plunges him again in my unprosperous concerns, and puts his life a second time in

1

danger:-still, still I know not how to let him think me guilty-wretched, unfriended creature that I am, what shall I do? [As she is going out, Colin advances. Colin. Haud a bit, lassie, you that are bewailing; what's your malady?

Aug. Sir! Did you speak to me?

Colin. Troth did I; I were loth to let affliction pass beside me, and not ask it what it ail'd.

Aug. Do you know me then?

Colin. What need have I to know you? An you can put me in a way to help you, isn't that enough?

Aug. I thank you: if I have your pity, that is all my case admits of.

Colin. Wha can tell that? I seem-as sorry a figure as I

may be better than I

cut, I have as gude

blude in my veins, and as free of it too, as any Briton in the land;-troth, an you be of my country, madam, you may have heard as much.

Aug. I do not question it ;-but I am not of Scotland.

Colin. Well, well, an' if you had, the de'il a bit the worse shou'd I ha' lik'd you for it; but it was not your lot;—we did na' make oursalls;-Paradise itsal 'wou'd na' hald all mankind, nor Scotland neither:and let me tell you, there's no braver or more auncient people underneath Heaven's canopy; no, nor a nation of the terrestrial globe wha have more love and charity for one another.

Aug. Well, sir, you seem to wish to do me service: I've a letter here, I cannot well deliver it myself; if

you are of this neighbourhood, perhaps you know the house of Mr. Mortimer.

Colin Hoot, hoot! I ken him weel; I came fra' thence but now.

Aug. Will you take charge of this, and give it as directed? the gentleman will be found at Mr. Mortimer's.

Colin. To Francis Tyrrel, esquire -- -Ahl an 'tis there abouts you point, gadzooks, your labour's lost; you may ev'n wear the willow as they say, for by my troth he'll play the loon wi' you.

Aug. Is that his character ?

Colin. No, but he canna' well be true to twa at the same time.

Aug. His heart's engaged it seems: what is the lady's name?

Colin. Woe worth her name! I canna' recollect it now; an it had been a Scotish name, I should na' let it slip so; but I've no mighty memory for your English callings; they do na' dwell upon my tongue : out on't! 'tis with a grete fat lubber yonder in the city that she dwells; a fellow with a paunch below his gullet, like the poke of a pelican; and now I call to mind, 'tis Aubrey is her name; ay, ay, 'tis Aubrey; she's the happy woman.

Aug. Is she the happy woman? Well, sir, if you'll deliver that letter into Mr. Tyriel's hands; there is no treason in it against Miss Aubrey; she herself is privy to the contents.

Colin. You need na' doubt but I shall honde it to