Delv. It is possible? With what emotions do I hear these words? Ah, Miss Beverly! once iny own Cecilia? do you, can you wish it possible?

Cec. No, no, I wish nothing about it.

Yet tell me how it has happened---I am curious (smiling) though not interested in it.

Delo. What hope would this sweetness give me, was my scheme any other than it is? But you cannot---no, it would be unreasonable---it would be madness to expect your compliance? It is next to madness for me to wish it? But how shall a man who is desperate be pru dent and circumspect.

Cec. Spare yourself Sir, this unnecessary pain. You will find in me no unnecessary scruples.

Delv. You know not what you say, Madam. All no◄ ble as you are, the sacrifice I have to propose.

Cec. Name it, Sir, with confidence, I will not disguise ---but frankly own that I will agree to any sacrifice you will mention, provided it has Mrs. Delvill's approbation. Dele. What words are these? Is it Miss Beverly that speaks?

C

Gec. What can I say more? Must I offer this pledge to? (bolding out ber band.)

Delv. My dear, Cecilia, how happy this makes me! (taking ber band) for my life I would not resign it. Yet how soon will you withdraw it when you know that the only terms on which I can hold it, are that this hand must sign away your inheritance.

Cec. I do not comprehend this, Sir,

Dele. Can you for my sake, make such a sacrifice as this? I am not permitted to give up my name for yours; can you renounce your uncle's fortune, as you must, if you renounce your name; and consent to such settlements as I can make upon you? Will these and your own paternal inheritance of ten thousand pounds, satisfy your expectations of living.

Cec. (Turning pale and drawing back ber band) 0, Mr. Delville, your wo rds pierce me to the soul.

Delv. Have 1 offended you madam? Pardon me then for indulging a romantic whim which your better - judgment disapproves. My presumption deserves this mortification.

Cee. You know not then my inability to comply?
Delv. Your ability or inability, I presume, depends

on your own will.

Cec. No, Sir, by no means, my power is lost---My for

tune, alas. is gone.

Delv. Impossible! utterly impossible!

Cec. Would to heaven it was otherwise! But it is too

true; and your father knows it.

Delv. My father!

Cec. Did he ever hint it to you P

Delv. Distraction! what horrible confirmation is coming! (pausing) you only, Miss Beverly could have made this credible!

Cec. And you then actually heard it?.

Delv. I had indeed heard it, as the most infamous falsehood. My heart swelled mith indignation at such slander. Cec. Oh, Sir, the fact is undeniable; though the circumstances you have heard with it may be exaggerated.

4

Delv. That indeed must have been the case. I was told that your parental fortune was totally exhausted, and that during your minority, you had been a dealer with the Jews! All this I was told from my father, or I could not have been made to hear it.

Cec. Thus far he told you nothing but truth.

Delv. Truth! (starting) never then was truth so scandalously wronged! I denied the whole report! I disbelieved every syllable! I pledged my own honor to prove every assertion false.

Cec. Generous Delvill, this is what I might expect from you (weeping.)

Delv. Why does Miss Beverly weep? Why bas she given me this alarm? These things must at least have been misrepresented. Will you condescend to unravel to me this mystérious affair.

Cec. Alas, Sir, the unfortunate Mr. Harrel! He has been the cause of my losses. You know his love of gaming, a passion which led him to his fatal end. In his embarrassments he came to me for assistance. He was my guardian; what could I do ? 1 yielded to his entreaties and repeatedly took up money of a Jew, upon the credit of my estate, until the whole was pledged. If it

was a fault, I know you will ascribe it to the real motive and pardon it.

Delu. My dear Cecilia, I thank you sincerely for this account of your misfortunes; altho it fills my heart with anguish. How will my mother be shocked to hear a confirmation of the report she had heard. How irritated at your injuries from Harrel! How grieved that your generosity should bring upon your character so many vile aspersions.

Cec. I have been of too easy a disposition---too un guarded-yet always, at the moment, seemed guided by common humanity. But I thought myself secure of wealth; and while the revenue of my uncle ensured me prosperity, I thought little of my own fortune. Could I have foreseen this moment-

Deiv Would you then have listened to my romantic proposal?

Cec. Could I have hesitated?

off our

Dely. Most generous of beings still then be mine! By our economy, we will make savings to pay mortgages and clear our estates. I will still keep ny name to which my family is bigoted, and my gratitude for your complaisance shall make you forget what you lose by the change of yours.

Scene between CECILIA BEVERLY and a GENTLEMAN, PRESUME, Madam, you are the lady

Gentleman. If this house. May I take the liberty

to ask your name ?

Cec. My name, Sir!

Gent. You will do me a favour by telling it me. Cec. Is it possible, Sir, you are come hither without already knowing it?

Gent. I know it only by common report, Madam. Cee. Common report, Sir, I believe seldom is wrong in a matter where it is so easy to be right.

Gent. Have you any objection, madain, to telling me your name e?

Cec. No, Sir, but your business can hardly be very important, if you are yet to learn whom you are to address. It will be time enough, therefore, for us to meet, when you have elsewhere learnt my ña.ne, (gomg.)

Gent. I beg, madam, you will have patience; it is necessary before I can open my business that I should hear your name from yourself.

Cec. Why, Sir, I think you can scarcely have come to this house, without knowing that its owner is Cecilia Beverly.

Gent. That, Madam, is your maiden name.

Cec. My maiden name! (surprised)

Gent. Are you not married, Madam?

Cec. Married Sir!

Gent. It is more properly Madam, the name of your busband, that I mean to ask.

Cec. And by what authority, Sir, do you make those extraordinary enquiries?

Gent. I am deputed, Madam, by Mr. Eggleston who is next heir to your uncle's estate, if you die without children, or change your name when you marry. I am authorized by a letter of attorney from him to make these enquiries and I presume, Madam, you will not deby his authority. He has been credibly informed, you are married; and as you continue to be called Miss Beverly he wishes to know your intention, as he is deeply interested in knowing the truth.

Cec. This demand Sir, is so extremely---(stamering) so---so little expected--

Gent. The better way, Madam, in these cases, is to keep close to the point. Are you married, or are you not? Cec. This is dealing very plainly, indeed, Sir. ButGent. It is, Madam; and very seriously too; but it is a business of no slight concern. Mr. Eggleston has a large family and a small fortune, and that, very much encumbered. It cannot therefore be expected that he will see himself wronged by your enjoying an estate to which he is entitled.

Cec. Mr. Eggleston, Sir, has nothing to fear from imposition. Those with whom he has or may have any transactions in this affair, are not used to practice fraud.

Gent, I am far from meaning any offence, Madam; my commission from Mr. Eggleston is simply this; to beg you will satisfy him upon what ground you now invade the will of your late uncle; which till explained, appears to be a point much to his prejudice.

Gec. Tell him then, Sir, that whatever he wishes to know, shall be explained in about a week. At present I can give no other answer.

Gent. Very well, Madam, he will wait till that time, I am sure; for he does not wish to put you to any inconvenience. But when he heard the Gentleman was gone abroad without owning his marriage, he thought it high time to take some notice of the matter.

Cec. Pray, Sir, let me ask, how you came to any knowledge of this affair ?

Gent. I heard it Madam, from Mr. Eggleston himself, who has long known it.

Cec. Long, Sir ? impossible!-it is not yet a fortnight-nor ten days, or not more, that--

Gent. That Madam, may perhaps be disputed; for when this business comes to be settled, it will be very essential to be exact as to the time, even to the very hour; for the income of the estate is large, madam; and if your husband keeps his own name, you must not only give up your uncle's inheritance, from the time of changing your name; but refund the profits from the very day of your marriage.

Cec. There is not the least doubt of that, nor will the least difficulty be made.

Gent. Please then to recollect, Madam, that the sum to be refunded is every hour increasing, and has been ever since last September, which made half a year to be accounted for last March. Since then there is now added

Cec, For mercy's sake, Sir, what calculations are you making out? Do you call last week last September ? Gent. No, Madam; but I call last September the month in which you were married.

Cec. You will then find yourself extremely mistaken; and Mr. Eggleston is preparing himself for much disappointment, if he supposes me so long in arrears with him.

Gent. Mr. Eggleston, Madam, happens to be well informed of this transaction, as you will find, if any dispute should arise in the case. He was the next occupier of the house you hired last September; the woman who kept it, informed him that the last person who hired it was a lady who stayed one day only, and came to town,