THE DELINQUENT :

that is, they are fo hateful to her, that she has for fworn the world, and lives alone in that hermitage. Sir Edw. Alone! why, what are you?

Nich. Me! pooh! I'm nothing!

Sir Edw. No! but nothing as you are, I fancy there never was a female hermitage without fomething like you-But, don't be alarm'd-I vifit the old lady for the fake of a young one, the lovely Mifs Olivia.

Nich. Mifs Olivia!

Sir Edw. Ay: I met her last night at a friend's houfe, and hearing fhe was the adopted child of your mistress, Miss Stoic's brother—

Nich. She is ;-of the gallant Major Tornado, who, bleffings on him, arrived here two days ago. Sir Edw. Major Tornado! tell me was he lately at Naples ?

Nich. I can't fay: but its not unlikely, for he came over land from India.

Sir Edw. From India! 'tis the fame-I met him there, on my travels, three months ago; and a more active, animated-But a hermitage! Major Tornado two whole days in a hermitage! with no companion but this Petrarch in petticoats-Zounds! is he alive?

Nich. Hardly! the quiet of a country life is almost death to him; and whilft his fifter is conftantly praifing the charms of retirement, he is fecretly curfing them. But here he comes, to defer.be, in perfon, his diflike to rural felicity.

[Exit into the Houfe.

Enter MAJOR TORNADO.

Sir Edw. Major Tornado! I rejoice to fee you. Major. Sir Edward! my dear fellow how long have you been in England? the fight of a civilized being is pleasant any where; but, in the country, amidit trees that never move, prospects that never

alter,

alter, and brutes that never utter-Where do you live? Where are you going? don't shirk-for, like a drowning man, I'll cling to you, till we both fink together.

Sir Edw. You are very good; but I don't mean to fink. The country has, for me, a thoufand charms; and, for civilized fociety-anfwer mecan cows speak fcandal, or fheep tell lies of us.

Major. No; I wish they could-any converfation's better than none; for, is it to be expected, that an old foldier, who, for forty years, has been liftening to the glorious rattle of the cannon, can now fit down contented with the baaing of lambs, and the fqueaking of little pigs? No, give me noife, battle, occupation! And, fooner than pafs another two days of ftill life in that hermitage, curfe me, but I'll do good to the community by fending challenges to all the apothecaries, and bringing actions against all the attornies.

Sir Edw. 'Tis very firange! pray, have you tried sports?-shooting-fishing

rural

Major. Shooting! that's very well! as if a man, that has been accustomed to wing game fix feet high, can take intereft in popping at partridges ! and for fishing, I tried that yesterday; and falling faft afleep with the line round my hand, the first bite from a large jack plumped me foufe into the water. But, I'll tell you what-I've one refource -I mean to build a neat cottage, on the modern plan.

Sir Edw. On the modern plan?

Major. Ay; that is, a house with dining rooms, drawing rooms, ball rooms, and ftabling for about fifty horses-and, if the workmen will be fo merciful, as to take two years to finish it, I fhall have all the pleasure, without any of the fatigue; for, at that time, my leave of absence expires, and I'll return to India without once fetting foot in it.

Sir Edw. Why, you are in a bad way indeed! Have you no mental refources? Nothing to excite love or friendship, or

Major. Don't talk of it :-I have an adopted child; but

Sir Edw. But what?

Major. She's undutiful to me, ungrateful to my fifter here, Mifs Stoic, and I'm forry for it. Her ftory interested me, it cut me to the heart; and though I adopted Olivia without feeing her, yet I pictured to myself a lovely, helplefs orphan, bidding me welcome by the name of father-benefactor-But, now, look ye, Sir Edward, if time don't make his clocks frike months inftead of hours, my leave of abfence will extend much beyond this world; for I can find no peace or comfort but in war, battle, and general uproar.

Sir Edw. Undutiful, and ungrateful, do you fay? How! in what manner?

Major. How! why, when her best friend, there, my fifter (pointing to Hermitage) finding her mind untutored, and her manners awkward, wifhed her to remove from her prefent negligent governess, Mifs Olivia refufed to comply forfooth-But I've done with her-As foon as I can find a houfe to place her in, the fhall bid adieu to this neighbourhood for ever; and to me, and my friendship, and -no, hang it, after all, perhaps, if I must have employment, I can't pafs time much better than in, now and then, fending a bank note to a poor, abandoned orphan.

Sir Edw. Right, Major! do not quite forfake her-and as you're fuch a ftranger here, if I can be of fervice-My aunt, for inflance, has a house, a few miles off, and will, I'm fúre, be ready to receive her.

Major. Indeed! that's the very thing; for I promised my fifter the should be fent away to

night,

night, and I'll go tell her directly. But, I fay, who is to conduct her? For, tho' I've the highest opinion of your character, Sir Edward

Sir Edw. 'Sdeath, fir! if you doubt that I'm a man of honour!

--

Major. Oh! no; not at all. But, begging your pardon, it is poffible now-a-days to be a man of very great honour, and yet be a very fad rafcal: for, feducing the wife or daughter of your friend, and, afterwards fhooting him in a duel, don't in the leaft deprive you of the fashionable appellation. Yet, feriously, Sir Edward, you rank fo high in every good man's praife, that I fafely may truft you.

Sir Edw. You may depend on't.-I fee you would avoid Olivia.-I will inform her of your wishes.

Major. Do-directly-while I prepare an attendant (going towards the Hermitage). Look! what a miferable hole am I going into! My fifter hasa ftrong, enlighten'd mind, and can fupport folitude; but I'm fo little of the hermit-Hark ye! come back as faft as you can, and I'll take a peep with you, at all the pretty faces in the public walks; for, tho' Mifs Stoic hates our fex, I'm very fond of hers; and if I find I can't manage time. any other way, i'cod I'll take a wife.

Sir Edw. Do.

Major. I will; for, next to war, I know nothing more likely to give a gentleman ample em ployment.

[Exit into Hermitage. Sir Edw. Bravo! Sir Edward! You have won the prize--and yet, fhan't lofe each good man's praife; for here's the ftalking-horfe, to cloak my guilt; here is the defperate and convenient friend, that is to anfwer for his patron's crimes.

Enter

Enter the DELINQUENT.

Why what's the matter? What agitates you ? Delin. That, which gives joy to you, the fight of England, of your native land-No friendly, kindred fmile hails my return; and I, who once was welcom'd, and lov'd like you, now, if I'm known, I'm known to be deftroyed.

Sir Edw. Be patient, and remember well'Tis but a year ago fince, in a poor Italian inn, I found you almoft perifhing for want.

Delin. You did; at Lucca-and I repeat what then I told you, much as my life is worth, fo much I owe you. (With fullen pride)

Sir Edw. Remember, too, I knew you at first fight. Knew you were the man, who had fo wrong'd, and fo deceiv'd my father; but, burying in oblivion all paft injuries, offer'd to protect you.

Delin. You have; and what are your commands? I fee you have in view fome daring, defperate service; and I am bound, and pledg'd to undertake it.

Sir Edw. Why, then, in brief, here, at the neighbouring fchool, there is a lovely girl, and none can thwart me in my plans, but her fuf picious governefs. You understand-fhe must be fomeway filenc'd, and yet my name kept fecret.

Delin. And mine proclaimed-Well, be it fo; yet

Sir Edw. No remonftrance: be it yours; be it yours to execute my wishes; no hefitation,

or

Delin. And do I hefitate? No; yet think a little, Sir Edward-you can, as yet, look into yourself: can see a spotlefs and untainted heart! and if, expanding with its pangs, hereafter it would

burft