You'll excuse me,

notwithstanding. (Aside) ladies, for hinting such a thing, and all I beg of you is this if they should creep without my knowledge and against my wishes, if through some too officious friend they should creep into notice, only do not imagine that it was I who gave them to the public.

Exit.

Laura. Thou art a vain ridiculous coxcomb, and hast but one merit in thy whole character -that is, to have Mr. Edward Belford for thy friend-well-aunt-are your resolutions against a second husband stronger than they were, and has the momentary exhibition of a hasty temper, or rather a careless disposition, sunk our Irish friend in your opinion.

L. Lov. He is an agreeable, open-hearted, generous creature, and if I had not formed an unalterable resolution never again to bind myself with marriage ties, to this temptation only perhaps I might have submitted. But let us talk of something else I find your adorer, Mr. Edward Belford, is in Bath.

Laura. No adorer of mine-he has altogether disowned the worship. Just indeed as his prayers seemed bursting from his lips, he started up in a terrible alarm, and neither I nor the world have heard of him since. His sister, however, whom I like almost as well as her brother, has explained to me in her letters his love of solitude, and flatters me with telling me how near I was to break his ridiculous determination. In

the mean time, as you mention your objections to a second marriage in all companies, I have the credit of having won the heart of Mr. O'Neale, though certainly never were hostilities so openly carried on as between us.

are

L. Lov. I hope I shall find him out at the masquerade-apropos, Laura-while we talking here, we forget our promise to rehearse our parts with Louisa Belford this morning.

Laura. True-true

Exeunt.

SCENE II.-An Apartment at MR. BELFORD'S.

E. BELFORD-LOUISA.

E. Bel. You know my opinion, Louisa-I would not preach to you the doctrine of a romantic affection, which, being never answered by the world, must be the source of perpetual torment to you; yet this I must say, that if to marry from love only is imprudent, to marry but for the sake of rank or fortune is criminal. The first may be the excess of a virtue, the last can be nothing but mean. Then my wishes upon the subject of Delville you know are unchangeable.

Louisa. Pray, brother, don't you think you resemble those pastors who inculcate the practice of virtue without setting us the example of

it? Do you mean to do us the two-fold service of advising us by your words and warning us by your life? Why don't you call this affection into exertion for your own happiness?

E. Bel. No-no-I tremble at the thought of fetters, which it is impossible to break, and yet

Louisa. Which you are too proud to submit to wear-oh! that I were any thing but your

sister.

E. Bel. I should never go near you—the lady that most resembles you I knew but a short month, and I felt how necessary it was to fly from charms that maddened half the world, and which were hurrying me on a career, in which, like many others, I should have made myself infinitely ridiculous. Happy was it for me that my mind had been chastened and strengthened by affliction to enable me so to fly. Delville ever served me, and he did me this service even by our quarrel: Oh! I could almost wish the catholic religion was established, that we might build nunneries for you.

Louisa. You are not to be borne-I wish the catholic religion was restored; you should be forced into the church, that you might be a bachelor for life.

E. Bel. Would you choose your brother, as you do now, for your confessor? well-I have given you my opinion-but depend upon it, you will have time enough to make up your

mind. Everard will conduct his approaches to you according to the rules of strict decorum. Ladders of ropes and hair-breadth escapes were for the last age.

Enter BELFORD.

Bel. Well-Edward-if you can be reasonable for a moment, I should wish to have a little conversation with you upon Mr. Everard's evident intentions with regard to your sister.

E. Bel. He surely has made no proposals before he has completed his domestic arrange

ments.

Bel. No-not absolutely-but that he intends it in a short time is, I think, most certain.

E. Bel. Yes-and I will venture to prophecy his manner-he will inquire into the exact amount of my sister's fortune-probably request you to add ten thousand pounds more to what you mean to give her already-he will tell you honorably and fairly the state of his own affairs, which I am told are rather embarrassed-in the course of his conversation he will hint at the antiquity of his family and talk of the pleasure of being allied to your's in order that you may descant upon the honor of being connected with his-if all things should be satisfactory to him, he will beg leave to pay his addresses to my sister, and then commence his suit in form.

Bel. Well-I see no harm in this-I cannot for the life and soul of me see any harm in this. Mr. Everard is one of the oldest families in the kingdom. He wants money to restore his family inheritance to it's splendor-we want rank to give brilliancy to our riches-the bargain's very well, I think.

E. Bel. Yes-it would pass upon the exchange, sir.

Bel. Don't sneer, Edward-don't sneer at your father-that at all events cannot be becoming-'sdeath, is it not enough to drive me mad to have all my schemes defeated, at the very moment when they seemed to touch their completion to be wrecked just in the haven-and all this for a mere whim, a shadowy caprice, an unintelligible phantom.

E. Bel. You mistake this matter, sir-depend upon it-If I thought that by making the efforts you require from me I should forward your plans, I would do my best to resist a most imperious feeling, and rush at once into the world: but be assured I should not only fail, but I should counteract your wishes: I should make more enemies than friends: we are placed in an invidious situation, which, politically speaking, the constitution disowns, and to which the passions of those, amongst whom you wish to live, are strongly opposed: it is better, sir, trust me, it is better to win than to force our way.

Bel. Opposed? to win than to force our way?