this?-a pocket-book, and open, and bank notes! -Heavens! how came it here?-Oh! no doubt it belongs to the ftranger; he has loft it; dropt it by accident; and perhaps already feels distress from wanting it. Where fhall I find him? for, after what has paffed, it would be gratifying to make even this fmall return. Ha! he comes-no, 'tis my father-and in fuch hafte! and looking fo difordered !

Enter MARCHMONT, baftily.

Speak, fpeak, Sir!-what has happened?

March. So I have outrun-efcaped them-Oh! (faint and overcome.)

Rofa. Merciful powers! how pale, how wan you look!

March. I have caufe: for, even now, waiting in yonder path for your return, two men approached, and feized me. They said, I was their prifoner, and for rent due from the Priory; and, what is moft perplexing and mysterious, they of fered inftant freedom, provided I would fail with you to fome far-diftant land. This ftaggered and enraged me; I ftruggled with them, and, in the conflict, I efcaped. But, oh! my child, my feeble frame, already worn with labour and with forrowyour hand, your hand, fweet girl.

Rofa (leading him towards the chair). Oh! is there no way to fatisfy thefe molt unfeeling men? the debt is but a trifle.

March. No; but, poor and friendlefs as I am, 'tis more than-foft!-affift me-I can go no further (falls into the garden chair).

Rofa. And muft I fee you perifh?-Oh, my father! live, for my fake live! Confider now our

hopes

hopes are vanished, and I left alone, no friend, no mother-Oh! pardon, pardon! I forgot, I forgot.

March. (wildly.) No mother, faid you?-and why, why, at this moment, is fhe not here to fuccour and confole you?-But he's revenged; for could fhe fee me thus reduced, thrus on the eve of being torn from the fole pledge of our affection

Rofa (flying into his arms). You fhall not; we will fall together.-(Turns from him.) Heavens! when money could reftore him, is there no mode? -no.-Ha! what have I here? (looking at the pocket-book, which has been all the time in her hand.) Enough; more than fufficient for the purpose.Bleffed fight! I-I can fave him (going baftily towards MARCHMONT).-And yet-(paufes and recollects)-what am I doing? this money is another's; and I must not-Oh! no, I dare not touch it.

March. Hark! they are coming!--Rosa, raise me; help, help me to avoid them. (She tries to raise him, he falls back in the chair.)—No, it will not be; I am their victim.

Rofa (kneeling). Oh! Thou who watchest over trembling innocence! inftruct, direct me.-There, is a parent perifhing from fick nefs and diftrefs; here, is the remedy to fave him. Am I, his child, to see him fuffer on; or am I, by difhonest means, to fnatch him from the grave !(MARCHMONT fighs, fhe flies to him.) My father, fpeak-fpeak to me, my father!

March. I do, I do.-(Takes her band.) Ha! what agitates you? what makes you tremble thus ? Rofa. Guilt, father, guilt. I have the power to preferve you look, here is the money-but it is not mine, father, it is not mine.

March. Not yours!

C 4

Rofa.

SCENE-An Apartment at Mrs. DECOY'S.

Enter GABRIEL, dressed in White.

Gabr. Ha! ha! ha! what a rare jolly thing matrimony is !-If I had known it had been half fo comical, to be fure I wouldn't have had a flice of it many years ago. And then, to get fuch a wife! Oh, I'm the luckieft fellow!-I must remember I'm married though; for my guardian has fo hurried me into it, and I've fo feldom feen my spouse, that, after a glafs or two at dinner, I didn't recollect her-no, icod! and I trod on the toe of another man's wife instead of my own.-I muft alfo mind on another account; no longer, Gaby, muft you be a gay deceiver; no more with killing glances murder every heart.

Enter Mrs. GAB. LACKBRAIN (late Mrs. DECOY).

Mrs. L. Come, my adorable! the curricle's waiting; and as the Cottage must be our place of refidence, the fooner we get there the better. But you must invite the baronet; pofitively Sir Harry is the friend of all others to pafs the honey-moon with us.

Gabr. No doubt; and if fo great a man will condefcend-I tell you what-fuppofe you get pen and ink, and write to him directly?

Mrs. L. I get pen and ink! I write! do you imagine a perfon of my accomplished education ever devotes a moment to writing?

Gabr. Nan!

Mrs. L. No, Sir, that is your department; and whilst you are keeping accounts, managing the

houfe,

house, and looking after the fervants, I shall be employed in more important matters-in dancing, finging, playing-in fhort, in gratifying my hufband's vanity, by making myself adored by all mankind.

Gabr. What! fo when I want my dinner, you'll be making yourself adored by all mankind! upon my word! However, you know beft; and if you are fo accomplished that you can't write a letter, why I muft do it for you. So come to the Cottage, and then

Enter a SERVANT with a Letter.

Serv. From Mr. Craftly, Sir; he fays it is of the utmost confequence.

Gabr. Indeed! (opens it, and reads.)—" Dear "Gabriel, Marchmont having efcaped from the "bailiffs, and being now in fearch of you to entreat "lenity, it is abfolutely neceffary you should fee "him, and confirm what I have done: therefore "let Mrs. Gabriel go alone to the Cottage, and

you may follow in a few hours: for, before "Mr. Primitive arrives, both Marchmont and his

daughter must be difpofed of. P. S. 1 have "ordered all the new furniture you and your "wife defired."--Go alone! what! part already?

Mrs. L. Nay, you never difobey your guardian, you know; and 'tis but for a few hours. So, fhew me to the curricle, Sir (to the Servant).— And don't now, pray don't hurry yourself.Heigho! I'll fupport your abfence as well as I

can.

Gabr. And fo will I yours.-Heigho¦ (in imitation.)-Don't be uneafy, I won't be long,

SCENE-An Apartment at Mrs. DECOY's.

Enter GABRIEL, dreffed in White.

Gabr. Ha! ha! ha! what a rare jolly thing matrimony is !-If I had known it had been half fo comical, to be fure I wouldn't have had a flice of it many years ago. And then, to get fuch a wife! Oh, I'm the luckieft fellow!-I must remember I'm married though; for my guardian has fo hurried me into it, and I've fo feldom feen my spouse, that, after a glafs or two at dinner, I didn't recollect her-no, icod! and I trod on the toe of another man's wife instead of my own.-I muft alfo mind on another account; no longer, Gaby, muft you be a gay deceiver; no more with killing glances murder every heart.

Enter Mrs. GAB. LACKBRAIN (late Mrs. DECOY).

Mrs. L. Come, my adorable! the curricle's waiting; and as the Cottage must be our place of refidence, the fooner we get there the better. But you must invite the baronet; pofitively Sir Harry is the friend of all others to pafs the honey-moon with us.

Gabr. No doubt; and if fo great a man will condefcend-I tell you what-fuppofe you get pen and ink, and write to him directly?

Mrs. L. I get pen and ink! I write! do you imagine a perfon of my accomplished education ever devotes a moment to writing?

Gabr. Nan!

Mrs. L. No, Sir, that is your department; and whilst you are keeping accounts, managing the houfe,