LESTER.

Shew me another path, by which I could

Have seen thee-heard thee-spoken of my love.

And I will plead most guilty.

(Kisses her hand.)

Ha, fairest! Do you know this hair? (Enter Margaret.)

Here's a pretty pass!

MARGARET.

I've lost my place!
Oh dear-oh dear! Young sir, foot home.

Why, what a handsome man! Oh dear-oh dear!
But Master Grimes declares you shall not stay.
'Tis three o'clock-a pretty cavalier.

But you must go. Oh, how it rains.
Come, Madam Iola, follow me at once.

LESTER.

I will be with you, love, at ten o'clock.
Oh, I shall watch the rising of the sun!

If you deceive me,

IOLA.

I never will put faith in vows again.

(Exit R.)

LESTER (folding her in his arms, and kissing her).

Good night, my own young love.

(Exeunt-Iola R. and

Lester L.)

(Grimes enters cautiously, looking around, followed by Margaret.)

GRIMES.

Margaret-hasten to Sir William Stanton.

Give him this note-are the horses ready?

They are.

MARGARET.

GRIMES.

The pillion on the grey?

MARGARET.

It is! (Goes to Grimes.)-Poor Madam Iola!

GRIMES.

Begone! You know ME well. (Exit Margaret, U. E. L. H.)

The game has grown most desperate: desperately
It must be played! Had it been lost-
Had all my patient gathering of the means
To form an Alpine mountain of revenge,
Which, for these many years, has been the end
For which I've clung to miserable life;
For which I'm branded with a miser's name,
Though gold I hate, save as the greatest power
To roll that vengeance on my victim's head!-
Oh, had it failed-I had gone mad indeed!
Hark-hark! Methinks the desperate oath I took
(Draws a dagger.)

Still vibrates in the grave-yard where I knelt;
And the pale spirit of my injured love
From the cold tomb cries on me-to revenge !

(Noises of men trampling outside.)

Hark! steps.-(Scream.)-Sir William has her!

Violent screaming-Iola's voice heard
crying for her father.)

She cries! Ha-ha! I hear it not! I stop my ears.
Again-Tola-stay! Again-again—Ha—ha !
Hush! No noise! All now is still.

They're off to Stanton House! Revenge is mine!

(Grimes sinks into a chair.)

ACT IV.

SCENE I-Before Master Grimes's house. Sun rising over the sea.

Enter LESTER and PERCY (gaily attired).

PERCY.

WHY, what a dress have we? all silk and gold!
That is to say, thy gold is in thy silks!

LESTER (walking).

Well, break away thy jests! Your head, I know,

In many places boasts some wondrous gaps;

So every thing runs out. This is the door!

Oh, how my fond heart beats! Wilt please thee knock?

Sweet sir, I will:

PERCY.

That is a goodly rap, a very proper one!

LESTER.

It may be so;-of knockers I'm no judge!

PERCY.

Thine eyes are on a belle; so, I forgive thee!

LESTER.

Margret is not so nimble as a fawn!

Pray knock again!

PERCY (knocks).

(Knocks.)

That is a thunderer: d'ye think the tuneful Jove
Has such a hammerer in his domain?

LESTER.

Your fingers are too delicate: pray let me try. (Knocks.)

PERCY.

Thou two-eyed cyclop—that's a noble peal!

MAN.

(Enter Countryman.)

I think ye mun knock some toime there, gay cavaliers.

PERCY.

You think so! Did you ever think before?

MAN.

All I know is, they be all gone from that ere house.

LESTER.

What horrid light is bursting on my mind?
Speak sirrah!-what do you mean?

:

MAN.

Why, this at four o'clock this morn, I saw a lady dragged from out that house, and mounted on a horse; then a gay knight, Sir William Stanton (for I heard his name), leaped on the horse, and, as they galloped off, I heard them say, We'll be at York to-morrow eve!

LESTER.

Treachery, treachery, most foul! most murderous ! (Lester is stupified with the information.)

Where's Master Grimes?

PERCY.

MAN.

I see'd him too; for first he cleared his house of that old Margaret! then mounted on his horse, and followed them!

What now is life to me?

A wrecking bark upon a furious sea

Is not more hopeless nor more miserable

Than is Lester !

PERCY.

Up, up, and seek her! Where's your wisdom now?
Come, cheer thee, sir; there's all to hope for yet!

The sunniest day doth often wake in clouds,

And love's sweet calm doth oft begin with storms!

She is as true as light!

LESTER.

PERCY.

Then, why despair?—Now, let us to the chase!

(Exeunt L. H.)

SCENE II-A room in an Inn. Sir William Stanton is pacing it
in great agitation.

SIR WILLIAM.

FROM the Royal Oak 't is fifty miles to York!
What's to be done? Her cries, and tears, and prayers,
So work upon me, that I can't proceed!
Sometimes she faints away-at others, screams,
As if a maniac suddenly she had turned;
Then wildly throws herself upon the floor;
Calls me seducer-coward !-fits her tongue
To every epithet she thinks can wound!
Then her wild passion, down a flood of tears,
Struggles, until by them 't is drowned!

I will not do the deed: and yet, without

I marry her, beggary or the grave's my only choice!

LANDLADY.

Your daughter, sir, is more composed:
I've had her taken to the arras parlour.

SIR WILLIAM (furiously).

(Enter Landlady.)

Madam, she is my wife! at least, will be!

LANDLADY.

I pray your pardon. A gentleman, sir, would speak with you.

(Exit Landlady. Enter Grimes, in a

riding dress.)