ACT I.

SCENE. An Apartment in PROJECT'S Country
Houfe. A Door in Flat.

CECILIA discovered trying to unlock the Door.

CECILIA.

So, nobody being near, I'll make use of the attendant's key, and for the fecond time converse with my dear Emmeline. We were yesterday interrupted by Sir Frederick, and I had only time to fay a few words to my old friend and school-fellow, but now-how! Sir Frederick again!

Enter Sir FREDERICK FAINTLY.

Cecil. Sir, I beg I may not be thus constantly difturb'd.

Sir Fred. Difturb'd! I would requeft the fame favour, Mifs Cecilia, but that nothing on earth ever disturbs me; and indeed nothing ever pleases me-I'm in a perfect ftate of happy nonchalance-I fancy though we're both on the same errand-that door, heh?

Cecil. I told you yesterday, fir, I know nothing about that door.

Sir Fred. Oh, for fhame!-what! do you pretend not to know that it leads to that part of the

A

house

house where Emmeline is lock'd up? come, come, Mifs-you remember I caught you bribing the attendant to lend you the key-Cecilia walks about in agitation) now why be affronted? nothing ever affronts me—no, if you were a man, and chose to fay I had caufed all Emmeline's fufferings-that I had behaved like a rafcal to her then fend me a challenge-then cane then kick me-why, I fhouldn't be affronted-no, I've too much good breeding and good temper.

Cecil. Very likely, fir; but as a vifitor at Mr. Project's houfe here in the country, I pry into no family fecrets-if I did, I believe the story of this young lady

Sir Fred. Ah, poor girl! fhe and all her large fortune had been mine if fhe hadn't-you underftand-love touch'd her brain.

Cecil. How do you mean, fir?

Sir Fred. Why, that's the cause of her prefent confinement: to be fure fhe has lately recovered her fenfes indeed is quite reftored; but her guardian and phyfician think her entering too fuddenly on the world again might occafion a relapfe-therefore fhe is kept quiet and clofe in that part of the houfe-Would you believe it, ma'am, fhe preferr'd another man to me?

Cecil. Indeed! and who could be fo accomplish'd as to out-rival a lover like fir Frederick?

Sir Fred. A coufin of her's, one Captain Arable, whofe father, being averse to the match, fent him to Gibraltar, where ever fince

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir, Lady Project defires to see you

diately.

imme

Cecil. There now-you need not be mortified-

there's

there's your equivalent: I'm fure her ladyfhip prefers you to another man, even to her husband.

Sir Fred. She does, fo fhew me to her. Mifs, if you should get a peep at Emmeline, tell her as I'm always in love in the country

Cecil. In the country! Why not in London?

Sir Fred. Oh, that depends on the part of the town I'm in-I conftantly adapt myself, and in every ftreet I'm a different man-for inftance now: in the Temple I'm a lawyer; in St. James's-street a lounger; in St. George's church I'm a married man; in Doctors' Commons a bachelor; Guildhall gives me an appetite: the Alley makes me waddle, in the Squares I'm not worth a farthing; and in Lombard-treet I've as many plumbs as a bankerSo tell Emmeline I ftill love her and will still be her hufband. [Exit. Cecil. Now then for my charming reclufe--(Opens a door in flat.) Emmeline, it is your friend Cecilia! She leads in Emmeline. Emme. Oh, forgive me, 'tis fo long fince I have feen a friend.

Cecil. Come, as we were interrupted yefterday, pray fit down and proceed with your ftory: the little I have heard makes me anxious to hear more(They fit)-now, my fweet friend, proceed.

Emme. I will when I am able-First then, did you ever hear the name of Edward Ara--? you fee my weakness; I have not power to proceed.

Cecil. Nay, nay; unbofom your feelings: pray go on.

Emme, I will, I will-the name of Edward Arable -it is enough to fay we lov'd and were dividedMy father chofe Sir Frederick for my hufband, and on the morn of our intended marriage, they falfely told me Edward was no more. What was to

be

be done? my lover dead! about to be united to his rival! my health long worn by grief and dif. appointment! Oh my friend! I had not ftrength to combat against fuch complicated mifery: a fever feiz'd me, my harrafs'd brain was heated to delirium, and merciful forgetfulnefs gave me that comfort, my friends and father had denied me!

Cecil. Poor Emmeline! and during your malady your father died.

Emme. He did, bequeathing me his whole fortune in cafe of recovery, and appointing Mr. Project my guardian. Now mark what follows: two months ago the phyfician, who had the care of me, proclaim'd my health reftor'd, and I came to this houfe in the full hope of taking poffeffion of my fortune, and sharing it with the man who beft deferves it--but what is the reverfe? I am confin'd to those rooms; not fuffer'd to be feen or fpoken to; my letters intercepted and deftroy'd, and when I afk the reafon for all this, they fay, "Your health's pre

66

carious, it requires peace and quiet, and if you "mix too fuddenly with the world the joy may "occafion a relapfe"---the joy! What joy, my "friend? What pleafure can there be in mixing with that world that hitherto has only robbed me of my fenfes, and thwarted me in my affections?

Cecil. True, Emmeline; and now I fee the motive for your guardian's conduct---He is an enterprizing man---has involv'd your fortune in his fchemes; and at prefent not being able to give you a fair account, he keeps you close, till by fome lucky fpeculation he is enabled to repay you---but is there no way to extricate you? no means of efcaping? Emme. None; impoffible.

Cecil. I have contrived to unlock one door in your

room,

room, you fee; why can't I get the key of the

other?

Emme. Because it leads to a pagoda that adjoins the houfe, and which has not been opened fince my confinement. Oh Cecilia! is it not hard to wake as from a long and frightful dream, and find all true? no cheering friend to diffipate your terrors? nay, even he whofe very fmiles would clear the clouds around me! he to be abfent! he not near to foothe me!

Cecil. He knows not of your recovery---your letters have not reach'd him, elfe-hufh! fomebody's coming! (Looks out.) it is your guardian ! I cannot leave you fo unfatisfied-let me go with you---we'li plan fome letters that may recall his fenfibility---his heart was once humane; and had he not ruin'd himself by living beyond his income--- 1 Emme. Ah! there's the fountain of all modern evil! when once a man exceeds the limits of his fortune, the barrier of honour as well as prudence is thrown down---money is borrowed never to be repaid---friends are dup'd and become enemies---the gaming table is flown to as a laft effort---till imperceptibly, ftep by step, the mind, originally virtuous, becomes defperate, harden'd, and unprincipled! and for these errors I am doom'd to fuffer! but he's here---Oh my father! why was I left to be the facrifice of another's diffipation and extravagance?

[EMMELINE and CECILIA exeunt at door in flat,

Enter PROJECT followed by a Servant,

Project. I tell you, go directly to Portsmouth; take my own carriage and horfes, and, when the packet arrives from the Eaft Indies, ask for Mr. Tanjore,