Henry. So fay I. Oh! if every body knew the bleffings of matrimony as much as I do, England would treble its inhabitants; and its most valuable property would be old bachelors and old maids; for they'd be taken alive, and fhewn as curiofities. [Exeunt.

SCENE.-The Library, with Painting Apparatus and transparent windows, as in 2d. Scene of the 2d. Alt-only, being day-light, the Windows are now illuminated.-LAURETTA is difcover'd painting Letters on the Veftal buried alive—at the Top She has already written the words "Edward Delauny," and at the bottom nearly finish'd thofe of "Amelia St. Orme."-Mrs. ST. ORME is difcover'd with ber.

fa

Mrs. St. Orme. Defift-defift, Lauretta!-this libel on Sir Edward will never vindicate your ther.

Lauretta. Nay, dearest Madam, I have nearly finish'd; another letter will complete the work. There! (comes down.)-Thus let the mystery be folv'd, be this the touchftone of Sir Edward's conduct !—And if it prove as I fufpect, that he's the real culprit, think of the bright reward-you, mother!-you ftill fhall blefs Lauretta and her fa

ther.

Mrs. St. Orme. Oh! if I thought there were a hope! but no, 'tis paft; and therefore to avow my

claim

St. Orme. (Without.) Where is the ?-Where is my daughter?

Mrs. St. Orme. Heavens! So near me ! my fhatter'd brain can't ftruggle with the conflict (Going towards the ftage door.)

Lauretta. Stay, I implore you, ftay.

Mrs. St. Orme. I cannot! dare not! no, within

this room I may remain conceal'd; and, fince I gain'd admiffion here unnotic'd, unobferv'd, none can betray me but yourself.

Lauretta. Fear not, for I blefs the lucky chance that thus enables you to hear and judge how you have wrong'd my father.

[Mrs. ST. ORME exit at ftage door.

Enter ST. OR ME and Sir EDWARD DELAUNY. St. Orme. (To Sir Edward, as he enters.) Think not I came to menace or intrude; no, Sir, I came on Henry's fuggestion, to seek my dear lov'd daughter; and what ftrange motive brought her to this place, the fhall explain hereafter. We owe no favour to Delauny House, and never will! (Croffes to LAURETTA, takes her band, embraces ber, &c.)

Sir Edward. (Afide.) And I myself should scrutinize her motive, but that Amelia's death makes me defy all fear-Oh yes, the dreaded tale died with her; and therefore (To ST. ORME), take a laft farewell of this proud house, that ftill fo galls and irri(Croffing, be fees the transparency, and. farts. Ha! whofe deed is this?" Edward Delauny !" (Reading and trembling.)

tates

Lauretta. Aye, and "Amelia St. Orme.”. What alarms you?-Why should a picture agitate you thus ?—I tremble not; no, nor my father!— See, though the ftory fhocks his tender nature, he turns not from it with remorfe ;-No, the faithful husband and the ardent lover break forth in mingl'd tears of pity and affection!-( falls on her knees.)→ Oh heaven!-I faid-I knew that he was innocent!

St. Orme. Explain, Lauretta.-What means that

Lauretta. Means !-That that lovely fuppliant is my mother; and that the hand that robs her thus of

5

liberty

liberty and life, is her exalted kinfman's, who treats the stage with scorn and indignation, when but a mimic scene like this can goad the guilty, and reward the good.-Father, you must, you shall be happy. (Embracing him.)

Sir Edward. Audacious girl; who dare accuse me of fuch crimes?

Lauretta, I, in the face of heaven and of man -I will aver, that to retain this fplendid edifice and proud domain, you thus immured the best of mothers and of wives-if not, behold the picture firmly, like my father.-See! he dare not-Oh, guilty!-on my foul he's guilty!

Sir Edward. 'Tis falfe-and were your mother here, fhe would accufe another.

St. Orme. What other, Sir?

Sir Edward. You know too well. Nay, dare not to deny it here's damning proof against you.(Producing letter, and reading.)—" I charge you to confine her-if the escape".

St. Orme. Oh villain-curft contriving villain! -if that which tenderness and pity prompted, has been perverted to fuch favage purpose, may every husband's every father's curfeBut no, guilt fuch as this is fo unparallel'd, that we fhould pray for mercy, not for vengeance.

Sir Edward. Away, and know fhe died the victim of her malady.

St. Orme. Died!

Sir Edward. Aye; and by her decease, I fway for ever here; and mark me, Sir, if rafhly you revive the charge, this letter fhall acquit me to the world. -No other witness can be found

Enter Mrs. ST. ORME.

Mrs. St. Orme. There can-and I'm that witnels. My life! my husband! after fuch proofs,

E 2

fhall

fhall I delay to clasp you to my heart?No; the ftory of your falfehood was contriv'd like this, from treacherous, fordid, motives; and henceforth, my fufpicion is reserved for those who would destroy domeftic peace-my love and confidence for him and her who know no with beyond it.-(Getting between ST. ORME and LAURETTA.)

St. Orme. Share-fhare my joys, Lauretta; alone I can't fupport them.-And you, Sir EdwardMrs. St. Orme. Upbraid him not; his triumph was to punish, ours is to pardon.-Yes, Sir-(to Sir EDWARD) the virtuous beft refent their wrongs, by deigning to forgive them.

Sir Edw. I fee I am betray'd, and need not your reproaches; my own, and that reproachful look are quite fufficient; and thus difgrac'd, I fhall renounce all future claim; for fortune, rank, and life are equally indifferent.-farewell! (going) and to relieve you from those bitter pangs that goad and torture here, know, t'was the hand of Heaven, not yours, that doom'd Sir Frederic to his grave.

Enter Mrs. SAPLING, meeting him.

Mrs. Sapling. What! going, coufin! now, when I expect the bride and bridegroom! (Sir EDWARD exit.)-and leave your company!-You're vastly welcome though (curtfeying to ST. ORME, Mrs. ST. ORME, and LAURETTA); and I expect my penitent husband, and with him Honoria married to Mr. Privilege; thefe are the terms of my forgiveness, and fo Mr. Poftpone is gone to inform him. (mufic witbout.) Here they come. I ordered one of my grand marches, to announce their arrival. Flourish of Mufic, and enter SAPLING, HENRY, HONORIA and PAUL POSTPONE.

!

Mrs. Sapling. Oh joy my dear Mr. Privilege I a thousand joys!

Henry,

Henry. You're too good-and in return, allow me to introduce to you Mrs. Henry Sapling. Mrs. Sapling. What!

Henry. Mrs. Henry Sapling, and to fave you the trouble of telling her of my paft follies, I've told her myself, and the generously forgave me; and for any further information on this fubject, I refer you to Captain O'Safh at Tipperary; and for any information relative to the bridegroom you expected, I refer you to the taylor who has juft arrested him; fo there end his privileges-and here begin mine (kiffing HONORIA).

Mrs. Sapling. Why, Mr. Poftpone, hav'n't you explained?

Sapling. He has; he told me how Privilege got into the bed-chamber, and I told him that my Arabella was related to Hambletonian, Rockingham, Ticklepilcher, and Potatoes; but, as ufual, he came too late. He ftopt to follow the fox chace. So, by his delay, I've loft a dear good wife, and Henry's gain'd one.

Paul. Don't blame me; I told you all along there was no doing business by driving and hurrying. And twenty attornies wou'dn't be fufficient for fuch a fashionable family as you are. But, I give you joy, ma'am (to Honoria); and if I've time, and your husband's leave, I'll vifit you every long vacation.And I give you joy, Mr. St. Orme; and fhould they traduce me for not convicting an innocent perfon, fhould they fay I'm not a fharp and active lawyer, fo much the beter-I know I'm an honeft one, and I'll delay to alter that character as long as I live.

Henry. Come, fince we are all united-fince, as I hoped, Henry and Lauretta have regain'd their prize-shall nunky have no wife ?-Come, madam,

come.

Sapling.