Lady E. [Peevishly.] Do not run away with the notion neither, that I am therefore interested in any other person's-You have among you vexed and disconcerted me, but there is not a grain of partiality in all my embarrassment-if you have any eyes, you may see there is not.

Cliff. Happy Blandish! your triumph is evident.

Lady E. Blandish, the odious creature-He is my abhorrence-You are hardly worse yourself in my bad opinion, though you have done so much more to deserve it.

Cliff. How cruel are the circumstances that compel me to leave you under these impressions!-nay-more —at such a time to urge a request, that during your most favourable thoughts of me would have appeared strange if not presumptuous.-This is the key of my apartment. It contains a secret that the exigency of the hour obliged me, against inclination or propriety, to lodge there. Should Sir Clement return before me, I implore you to prevent his discovery, and give to what you find within, your confidence and protection. Lord Gayville-but I shall go too far-the most anxious event of my life presses on me. I conjure you to comply, by all the compassion and tenderness nature has treasured in your heart-not for me-but for occasions worthy their display. Pray take it.

[Gives the key, which she receives with some reluctance, and exit.

Lady E. Heigho!-It's well, he's gone without insisting on my answer: I was in a sad flutter of indecision. What mysterious means he takes to engage me in a confidence which I could not directly accept!—I am to find a letter, I suppose the story of his heartIts errors and defence-My brother's name, also-to furnish me with a new interest in the secret, and one I might avow-One may dislike this art, but must be sensible of his delicacy-Ah, when these two qualities

unite in a man, I am afraid he is an overmatch for the wisest of us— -Hark!-sure that is the sound of my uncle's coach-[Looks out of the window.] 'Tis he-and now for the secret-Curosity! innate irresistible principle in womankind, be my excuse, before I dare question my mind upon other motives. [Exit.

Scene IV.-Another Apartment.

Enter LADY EMILY.

Lady E. Oh, lud! I could hardly tremble more at opening this man's apartment, were there a possibility of finding him within side. How do people find courage to do a wrong thing, when an innocent discovery cannot be prosecuted without such timidity?

[Approaches the door timidly, and unlocks it.

Enter Miss ALTON.

Amazement! Miss Alton! what is all this?

Miss Alton. Madam, I was brought here, for an hour's concealment; who I really am, I would not, if possible to avoid it, divulge in this house. When you saw me last, you honoured me with a favourable opinion -My story, not explained at full, might subject me to doubts, that would shake your candour.

Lady E. What shall I do?-She is pale, and ready to faint-I cannot let her be exposed in such a situation. Retire-you may rely upon me for present security-You know best your pretensions to my future opinion.-[Hearing SIR CLEMENT.]-Begone, or you are discovered. [Shuts her in, and locks CLIFFORD's door. Enter SIR CLEMENT.

Sir C. Oh, the triumph of honour! Oh, the sincerity of friendship! How my opinions are ratified-how my system is proved!

Lady E. Oh, spirits, spirits, forsake me not!-Oh, for a moment's dissimulation!

Sir C. There are some, now, who would feed moroseness and misanthropy with such events: to me they give delight, as convictions and warnings to mankind.

Lady E. Of how superior a quality, my good uncle, must be the benevolence you possess! it rises with the progress of mischief; and is gratified (upon principles of general good) by finding confidence abused, and esteem misplaced. Am I not right in attributing your joy at present to that sort of refinement?

Sir C. Hah! and to what sensations, my good niece, shall be attributed the present state of your spirits? To the disgust you took to Clifford almost at first sight. It will not be with indifference, but pleasure, you will hear of his turning out the veriest rascal, the most complete impostor, the most abandoned-but hold, hold!-I must not wrong him by superlatives-he is matched too.

Lady E. Really!-I congratulate you upon such a check of charity.

Sir C. And I wish you joy, my pretty pert one, upon the credit your sex has acquired, in producing this other chef-d'œuvre-such a composition of the highest vices and the lowest-But your good nature will, I dare say, easily find palliatives for both parties.

I

Lady E. Come, sir; no more of your sarcasms. can treat wrong actions with levity, and yet consider them with detestation. Prudes and pretenders condemn with austerity. To the collection of suspicions you are master of, let me add one-In a young lady, of the delicacy and age you have described, always suspect the virtue that does not wear a smile.

Sir C. And the sincerity that wears one awkwardly.

Enter PROMPT, hastily.

Prompt. Joy to your honour; I see you have caught her.

Sir C. Her!-whom?

Prompt. [LADY EMILY turning.] I ask your ladyship's pardon-Having only the glimpse of a petticoat, and knowing the object of my chase was in this house, I confess I mistook.

Sir C. In this house?

Prompt. As sure as we are-She came in through the garden, under Mr. Clifford's arm-up the other stairs, I suppose. If my lady had been hereabouts, she must have seen her.

Lady E. [In confusion.] Yes; but, unluckily, I was quite out of the way.

Sir C. Such audaciousness passes credibility.Emily, what do you think of him?

Lady E. That he is a monster.-[Aside.] How my dilemmas multiply!

Sir C. What, to my house! to his apartment here! I wonder he did not ask for protection in yours.What should you have said?

Lady E. I don't know; but, had I been so imposed upon as to receive her, I should scorn to betray even the criminal I had engaged to protect.

Sir C. [Tries at the door, and finds it locked.] Emily, my dear, do ring the bell, to know if the housekeeper has a second key to this lock.

Lady E. What shall I do?

Prompt. She is certainly there, sir, and cannot escape. Where can she better remain, till you can assemble all parties, confront them, face to face, and bring every thing that has passed to a full explanation?

Sir C. With all my heart; send and collect every body concerned as fast as possible.-How I long for so complicated an exhibition of the purity of the human

heart; come with me, Emily, and help to digest my plan.-Friends and lovers, what a scene shall we show

you!

[Takes LADY EMILY under the arm.-Exeunt.

ACT V.

Scene 1-An Apartment.

Enter CLIFFORD and MR. RIGHTLY.

Cliff. Your knowledge in the profession, Mr. Rightly, is as unquestionable as your integrity; but there is something so surprising in the recovery of the Charlton estate. If you knew, too, how the value of the acquisition is enhanced, by the opportune moment in which it presents itself I am in too much emotion to thank you as I ought.

Rightly. Sir, I want neither compliment, nor acknowledgment, for revealing what I should be a party to dishonesty, to conceal.

Cliff. You have a right to all my thoughts: but I have an appointment to obey, that admits no time for explanation; favour me for a moment with your pencil, [RIGHTLY takes out a pencil and pocket-book.] and a blank page in that memorandum-book.

[CLIFFORD writes.

Rightly. My life on't, his head is turned upon some girl not worth a shilling-There is an amiable defect, but a very observable one, in the nature of some men. A good head and heart operate as effectually as vice or folly could do to make them improvident.

Cliff. Mr. Rightly, I confide to your hands a new secret relative to the Charlton estate; do not read it till you return home. [Gives the book.-Aside, and going.]