Sir And. I do-and to make Jack a young nabob, for getting me related to fuch a brother as Sophia's.

Tourly. (baking bands with Giles.) There!this is the refult of not studying wicked mathematics! -and fooner than not be one of the family, I think I'll marry the old maid !-Till we meet again -yours-yours-and yours my little fleeping partner! [Exit bowing to little Henry, who returns it. Mrs. V. And now, by what ftrange miraclebut no-inform me first-has Villars, like myself, beheld this?

Giles. No, Madam-there be the worst on't-and I do fear

Mrs. V. Fear what!-Heavens !-is he not yet return'd?

Giles. Ees-no-that is fifter Soph, do faydang it? 'Raten!-Why don't thee fpeak, Sir Andrew?

Sir And. Because I guess that he has left his home from moft abandon'd motives-and to neglect a wife, whofe name upheld-whofe fortune has fupported him! (Mrs. Villars appeals.) Ay-fupported him!-didn't your worthy father pay him thofe thousands which your aunt bequeath'd you? Mrs. V. My father did!

Sir And. Come then-let us go forth and af certain-but if, as I suspect, he has brought London fashions into rural life

Giles. No-that he ha'n't-for I do pretty well understand fashion myself-but this, (pointing to Henry,) I understand better-and if these be the cares of a family-give I a hundred fuch cares !for dang me, if I wouldn't rather be feyther of one little Henry, than leader of all the fashions in the universe !

Sir And. Ay: let Mr. Villars look to it—and if he thinks I can wield no weapon but the pen-he E 3

hasn't

hasn't heard that I fail'd from India in that fleetyes-they faid I was old enough for the cockpitbut I fought against the common foe till I had ram'd down best part of my dictionary, and fent my new meanings against the French admiral's head; and talk of invafion-pooh !-even our trading veffels are fo invincible, that were the enemy in the Thames-curfe me, but our very coal barges would be too hot for them. [Exeunt,

SCENE-Outfide of Villars' Houfe in the Foreft.

Enter Tourly and Jack Analyse.

Jack. My dear Charles-how-how shall I prove my gratitude?

Tourly. How! by entering that house-by telling Sophia you're a young nabob-by winding up our tour with a wedding!-Oh you rogue!-isn't this worth travelling for?

Jack. It is-and next trip, you shall drive all the journey-order dinner to your own likinghave the best bed

Tourly. What! and the liver, wings, and first warming pan!-But now for Sophia-and as to thanks-seriously speaking, Jack, we are all fellow travellers" towards that bourne from whence no traveller returns," and he will make a bad journey from the beginning to the end, who won't ftep a little out of his road to aid a helplefs and bewilder'd paffenger. [Exeunt into House.

Enter Sir Andrew, Giles, Mrs. Villars, and Henry.

:

Sir And. Well-well-leave it to me. (Giles croffes haftily, leading Henry.)-Why, where now?

2

Giles.

Giles. To be the first to fhew-him to his feyther -I know it be unfair; but for the foul of me, 1 can't refift the felfish joyous feeling-come[Exit into Houfe with Henry.

come

Sir And. And may, he find his father-but here again! (pointing to boufe.)-Is this an habitation? -could not your fortune have procur'd a mansion

more.

Mrs. V. Nay-nay-retirement was my choice! and till last night.

Sir And. And wherefore then? was darkness the fit hour to fearch for his loft Henry ?-Well! well! I will not add to your distress-but if I'm right-remember-to pardon indifcriminately, is to encourage vice, at the expence of virtue !

Re-enter Giles from the House.

V Giles. So-it be all over !-Mr. Villars be not come back-and fifter Soph do fay that Lady Davenant-no-not Lady Davenant!-or, if the did, don't believe her

Mrs. V. Speak !-inform me !-or from herself

Giles. Why then, Lady Davenant have just fent word the do repent of what has paft, and will let Mr. Villars come home directly!

Mrs. V. (after a paufe.) I'm fatisfied-your arm, Sir(to Sir Andrew)-now lead me where you will Heavens! he's here!-Oh! hide me -fave me!-I have not courage

Sir And. But I have-fupport her, Giles, whilft I inform him-(Mrs. Villars reclines on Giles's drm) now if I can but be cool!-but at prefent Calcutta is an ice-house to me!

Enter

Enter Villars.

Sir And. So-you are here, Sir-and I am here!-I, Sir Andrew Analyfe, who, though a ftranger to your perfon, am none to your proRigacy!

Villars. How! again this perfecution!-again infulted and invaded!-but let me pafs-and in Maria's fmiles, forget the harfhnefs of her haughty friendsMy life!-my

Mrs. V. Oh Villars! Villars! (turning away and weeping.)

Villars. What! avoid me!fpeak-whilft I have reafon

Sir And. 'Tis in vain, Sir!-fhe has heard of Lady Davenant-fhe knows laft night was pafs'd in vile-abandon'd

Villars. 'Tis falfe-I pafs'd it in a prifon!(Giles and Mrs. Villars exprefs aftonishment.)-Ay -in a prifon! and I had borne the fecret to my grave-but fince her love's in danger-all fcruples vanifhin my own vindication I must reveal the fecret that preys upon my peace, and in a word avow my poverty and ruin!

Mrs. V. Avow your ruin!

Sir And. No-he avows his diffipation-the worft of diffipatoin !-for he confeffes that your fortune has been fquander'd

Villars. It has been fquander'd!--but not by Villars-and let that fuffice-ftill I would fpare her feelings and your own.

Sir And. All evafion!-and by whom nay, I infift-by whom but Villars

Villars. By your own brother then-by her father-there! there! (giving him a paper) read the proud Sir Edward's poor excufe.

Sir And, (reading it.) What !-Sir Edward never paid it !-and owns he loft it at the gaming

2

table!

table!and you !-for years you have conceal'd this fecret from your wife.

Villars. Ay whilft you would goad her with her husband's diffipation, I fcorn'd to tell her of her father's!-and though reproach'd with being her dependent, I was too fond to hint that he was mine!-I toil'd for her fupport-and fhe most humble and domeftic-our moderate wants were eafily fupplied--till all the produce of our farm was buried in deftructive flames-then one who call'd herself my friend-marks this-fhe proffer'd me a loan and I believing her intentions friendly, moft gratefully receiv'd it but foon her motive was apparent-fot ftung with anger at my coldnefs-and wild at hearing I had caus'd Sophia's Alight-he fuddenly imprifon'd me!--but if I felt resentment or regret'twas at the paltry fuppofition that bondage, menaces, or death could fhake one atom of my love for her, who giving me her heart, gave me what monarchs might account a rich inheritance.

Giles, I faid fo-all along, hear it out, fays I -and I do fuppofe then the person who did laft night call out for you, was no other than a bailiff.

Villars. It was-and not an hour ago this rafh mistaken woman repented, and reftor'd me to that home-which has of late been so infested with calamity, that it requir'd not a new-(advancing towards Sir Andrew, and frowning on bim).—Sir, henceforth condemn not on report-condemn not till you've ample proof; for, as vice often gains the world's applaufe by wearing virtue's mask, so, virtue, acting from itself, and carelefs of external forms, becomes foul flander's mark; but you perceive,fo high it foars, that the unvenom'd fhaft falls hurtlefs to the ground.

[Exit Giles into the boufe.

Mrs.