throw myself into your dear arms. Zoouns, this letter is invaluable ! Enter BETTY. Oh! Betty, ye are an axcellent wench, this letter is worth a million. Betty. Is it as I suspected, sir, to her sweetheart ? Sir Pert. It is-it is! bid Constantia pack oot of the house, this instant; and let them get the chaise ready, to carry her wherever she pleases; but first send my wife and son hither.. Betty. I shall, sir. Sir Pert. Do so, begone. [Exit BETTY.] Aha! Maister Chairles, I believe I shall cure your passion for a vartuous beggar, noow, I think he canna be so infatuated as to be a dupe till a strumpet-let me see -hoow am I till act noow ?-why, like a true poleetician, I must pretend most sincerely where I intend most deceit. Enter LADY MACSYCOPHANT and EGERTON. Weel, Chairles, notwithstanding the meesery ye ha brought upon me; I ha sent for ye and yeer mother, in order till convince ye baith of my affection, and my readiness till forgive; nay, and even till indulge your perverse passion; for since I find this Constantia has got hold of your heart, and that your mother and ye think, that ye can never be happy withoot her, why I'll na longer oppose yeer inclinations. Eger. Dear sir, you snatch me from sharpest misery. On my knees let my heart thank you for this goodness. Lady Mac. Let me express my thanks too; and my joy, for had you not consented to his marrying her, we all should have been miserable. Sir Pert. Weel, I am glad I ha found a way till please ye baith at last-but noow, my dear Chairles, suppose noow, that this spotless vestal, this wonder of vartue, this idol of your heart, should be a concealed wanton, after aw? Eger. A wanton, sir! [Eagerly. Sir Pert. Or suppose that she should have an engagement of marriage, or an intrigue wi another mon, and is only making a dupe of ye aw this time; I say only suppose it, my dear, dear Chairles; what would ye think of her? Eger. I should think her the most deceitful, and the most subtle of her sex, and if possible, would never think of her again. Sir Pert. Wull ye give me yeer honour of that? Sir Pert. Enough-I am satisfied. [Cries with joy.] You make me young again; I was afraid ye were fascinated wi the charms of a crack. Do ye ken this hond? Eger. Mighty well, sir. Sir Pert. And ye, madam ? Lady Mac. As well as I do my own, sir, it is Con stantia's. Sir Pert. It is so; and a better evidence it is, than any that can be given by the human tongue, here is a warm, rapturous, lascivious letter, under the hypocritical syren's ain hond; her ain hond, sir, her ain hond. But judge yourselves read it. Eger. [Reads.] I have only time to tell you, that the family came down sooner than I expected, and that I cannot bless my eyes with the sight of you, till the even ing. The notes and jewels, which the bearer of this will deliver to you, were presented to me since I saw you, by the son of my benefactor Sir Pert. Now mark. Eger. [Reads.] All which I beg you will convert to your own immediate use, for my heart has no room for any wish, or fortune, but what contributes to your relief and happiness Sir Pert. Oh, Chairles, Chairles! do you see, sir, what a dupe she makes of you. But mark what follows; mark, Chairles, mark, Eger. [Reads.] Oh, how I long— Sir Pert. Mark. Eger. [Reads.] To throw myself into your dear, dear, arms Sir Pert. Mark, mark. Eger. [Reads.] To sooth your fears, your apprehensions, and your sorrows. I have something to tell you of the utmost moment, but will reserve it till we meet this evening in the dark walk- -in the dark walk? Sir Pert. In the dark walk-ah! an evil eyed curse upon her! yas, yas, she has been often in the dark walk, I believe—but read, read ! Eger. [Reads.] In the mean time, banish all fears, and hope the best, from fortune, and your ever dutiful, and ever affectionate CONSTANTIA HARRINGTON. Sir Pert. There, there's a warm epistle for you! in short, the fact is, the hussy, ye must know, is married till the fellow. Eger. Not unlikely, sir. Lady Mac. Indeed, by her letter, I believe she is. Sir Pert. Noow, madam, what amends can ye make me for countenancing your son's passion for sic an a reptile? and ye sir, what ha ye till say for your disobedience and your phrenzy? Oh! Chairles! Chairles, you'll shorten my days! [Sits down. Eger. Pray, sir, be patient-compose yourself a moment; I will make you any compensation in my power. Sir Pert. Then instantly sign the articles of marriage. Eger. The lady, sir, has never yet been consulted, and I have some reason to believe that her heart is engaged to another man. Sir Pert. Sir, that is na business of yours-I know she wull consent; and that's aw we are till consider Oh! here comes my lord! Enter LORD LUMBERCOURt. Lord L. Sir Pertinax, every thing is ready, and the lawyers wait for us. Sir Pert. We attend your lordship; where is Lady Rodolpha? Lord L. Giving some female consolation to poor Constantia. Why, my lady? ha! ha! ha! I hear your vestal, Constantia, has been flirting! Sir Pert. Yas, yas, my lord, she is in very gude order for ainy mon that wants a wife, and an heir till his estate, intill the bargain. Enter TOMLINS. Tomlins. Sir, there's a man below, that wants to speak to your honour, upon particular business. Sir Pert. Sir, I canno speak till ainy body noowhe must come another time; haud-stay, what, is he a gentleman ? Tomlins. He looks something like one, sir; a sort of a gentleman; but he seems to be in a kind of a passion, for when I asked his name, he answered hastily; 'tis no matter, friend, go tell your master there is a gentleman here, that must speak to him directly. Sir Pert. Must! ha! vary peremptory indeed! pr'ythee let's see this angry sort of a gentleman, for curiosity's sake. [Exit TOMLINS. Enter LADY RODOLPHA. Lady Rod. Oh! my Lady Macsycophant, I am come an humble advocate, for a weeping piece of female frailty; who begs she may be permitted to speak till your ladyship, before ye finally reprobate her. Sir Pert. I beg your pardon, Lady Rodolpha, but it must not be; see her, she shall not. Lady Mac. Nay, there can be no harm, my dear, in hearing what she has to say for herself. Sir Pert. I tell you, it shall not be. Lady Mac. Well, well, my dear, I have done, I have done. Enter TOMLINS and MELVILLE. Tomlins. Sir, that is my master. Sir Pert. Weel, sir, pray what is your urgent business wi me, sir? Mel. To shun disgrace, and punish baseness. Sir Pert. Punish baseness! what does the fallow mean? wha are ye, sir? Mel. A man, sir. Sir Pert. A mon, sir! Mel. And one whose spirit and fortune once bore as proud a sway as any within this county's limits. Lord L. You seem to be a soldier, sir! Mel. I was, sir, and have the soldier's certificate, to prove my service-rags and scars: for ten long years, in India's parching clime, I bore my country's cause, and in noblest dangers sustained it with my sword-at length ungrateful peace has laid me down, where welcome war first took me up—in poverty and the dread of cruel creditors. Paternal affection brought me to my native land, in quest of an only child. I found her, as I thought, amiable as paternal fondness could desire, but lust and foul seduction have snatched her from me; and hither am I come, fraught with a father's anger, and a soldier's honour, to seek the seducer, and glut revenge. Lady Mac. Pray, sir, who is your daughter? Lady Mac. Constantia ! Eger. Is Constantia your daughter, sir? Mel. She is, and was the only comfort, that nature, fortune, or my own extravagance had left me. |