allow me to thank such goodness as I ought;-your son, sir Sir Hub. Ah! what of him? Ell. I saw him pass along, he fled from my outstretched arms, he was deaf to my cries ;-e'en now he's engaged in a duel. Sir Hub. Ha! [Draws his sword, and is running out, staggers, drops his sword. Ellen and Jessy support him.] Who is the villain that has caused it? Jes. Ah, my poor Edward! Sir Hub. Oh that I could rush before my child, and receive the fatal ball in this old broken heart!-Perhaps― dreadful thought!-e'en now the deadly tube is levelled at his manly breast. [The report of a pistol is heard, L. Ellen sinks into his arms.] Bear up, I cannot support thee. [Another pistol is discharged, L.] Horrible suspense !-what a death-like silence! Ell. Death;-oh my adored Charles' Jes. Ah, my poor Edward! Fra. [Without.] Huzza! huzza! [Enters L] Huzza !— he's safe-he's safe. All. Who? Fra. 'Squire Charles,-'Squire Charles. [Crosses R.] Huzza! [Exit R. Sir Hubert folds his hands on his breast in silent gratitude.] Jes. Ah, my poor Edward! Ell. Your son is safe ;-heard you the words? Sir Hub. They have shot life through me. Ell. Jessy! rejoice with me. [Seeing her dejected.] Wretch that I am, to forget thy sorrows!-Take comfort, sweet girl!—perhaps Enter OLD RAPID, capering, L. O. Rap. Tol de rol lol-Safe and sound-safe and sound --tol de rol lol. Jes. Who? 0. Rap. My boy Neddy,-my darling Neddy-safe and sound, tol de rol lol. [Sees Sir Hubert and bows respectfully. Jessy and Ellen talk apart.] Sir Hub. So, Mr. Rapid! How happened this, sir? O. Rap. Really, Sir Hubert, I don't understand the cut of it; all I can say is, your son's behaviour was-oh-superfine ;--when they had fired their pistols-they drew out their swords, aud your son disarmed Neddy; and then he generously gave him his sword again, which was extremely genteel, for it was a brand new silver-hilted sword, and, I suppose, by the laws of honour, he might have kept it. Sir Hub. Mr. Rapid, why did you break your appoint ment ? O. Rap. Mr. Vortex, sir— Sir Hub. Mr. Vortex-I fear your son has selected an an imprudent preceptor. O. Rap. Chose a bad pattern, you think, sir?—I am afraid he has Sir Hub. Will you, sir, favour me with a few minutes' conversation ? O. Rup. You know, Sir Hubert, I'm your faithful servant to command. Sir Hub. [To Ellen.] Come, let us to our hero. Will you, fair creature, condescend to be a crutch to an old man? [Takes Ellen's arm.] I shall expect you, sir. Ell. Jessy! Jes. I follow, madam. [Exeunt Sir Hubert, and Ellen, R.] Do I address the father of Mr. Rapid? O. Rap. You do, pretty one! Jes. [Taking his hand and kissing it.] I beg your pardon; but are you sure your son's life is safe-quite safe? 0. Rap. Yes. A very charming girl, I declare!-I'm very much obliged to you for taking notice of my Neddy!Poor fellow! nobody seemed to care what became of him. I'm very much obliged. A sweet pretty-spoken creature as ever I saw ! But I must away to the Nabob's, or I shall be too late for the wedding. Jes. Wedding! whose, sir? O. Rap. Whose? why, my boy Neddy's, with Miss Vortex, to be sure! Jes. Married! Edward married! "Tis too much [Leans on Old Rapid for support. O. Rap. Eh! what? speak-tell me! Jes. Oh, Edward! is this the return for my love? Have I merited this cruel desertion? 0. Rap. Desertion ?-What !-has the rascal!-I shall choke myself Has he behaved ill to so sweet a creature? Your tears tell me so. I'll kill him. He's my own son, and I have a right to do it. Your name, your name! pretty soul! Jes. Jessy Oatland. The indiscretion of my father has made me a servant O. Rap. And the discretion of his father has made him a gentleman. But I'll make the rascal know you are not humbled by your father's conduct, nor is he exalted by his: a villain! Can he hope to be called a man of honour for opposing his head to a pistol, while himself levels the shaft of anguish at an innocent woman's heart? But I'll kill him, that's one comfort. Come with me, sweet one! Jes. Sir, I must attend my mistress-I am servant to his bride. [Weeps. O. Rap. I shall go mad!-Don't cry-If he, by marriage, won't make you my daughter-I, by adoption, will.Good bye, Jessy! Oh, the rascal!-Cheer up!-The scoundrel!-Pretty creature!-The dog!-What a shape! -I'll kill him. [Exeunt severally; Rapid, R. Jessy, I.. END OF ACT IV. ACT V. SCENE I-YOUNG RAPID and Hair-dresser, discovered. Two Tables; on one, Pens, Ink, Paper, and Sealing Wax; on the other, a large Looking Glass, on castors, Two Chairs. Y. Rap. Dispatch! Why don't you dispatch ? Hair. Done in a moment, sir,-pray keep your head still. Y. Rap. [Jumping up.] Oh, Jessy Oatland!-S'death -have not you done? Hair. Sit down, sir-done in a moment. Y. Rap. Well, well; I'm as patient as [Sits. Enter FRANK at the door, R. Rapid jumps up and runs to him. Well!-Speak-quick! Fra. Sur-I-that is-she-no, I-went Y. Rap. You tedious blackguard-is she gone! Is Jessy gone? Fra. Ees, sur. Y. Rap. What! left her father's? Where is she? [Aside. Y. Rap. What must she think me? what I am-a rascal. Hair. Sit down, sir ;-done in a moment. Y. Rap. Yes, yes; I am as calm aş What do you want? Enter JOHN, L. [Sits. [Jumps up again. John. Sir, my master and Miss Vortex wait for you. [Exit, L. Y. Rap. Aye, to fulfil that infernal marriage promise. Oh, Jessy! [To Frank.] What are you at? Fra. Sur, I were only twiddling about my thumbs. Y. Rap. You are always twiddling about your thumbs. What shall I do?-Go to them.--No, I'll write: I want to write. Fra. Oh, you do? Y. Rap. I tell you, I want to write. Y. Rap. S'death! then don't stand there. [Moving to another place. Y. Rap. Thickhead, bring pen and ink. [Brings, from side table, pens and ink. Y. Rap. Oh, this infernal pain!-A candle-to seal a letter. [Exit Frank, and returns with a candle, K.] Zounds, it is not lighted! Fra. You did'nt tell I to light it. Y. Rap. Was ever man plagued with such a hollowheaded ninnyhammer. Fra. [Aside.] Maybe, that be better than a hollowhearted one! Enter JOHN, L. Y. Rap. [Jumps up.] Well! John. My master has sent you those parchments to pe ruse. Y. Rap. [Throwing them down.] I would'nt read them, for his estate. John. He will wait on you, sir, directly. Y. Rap. Begone! all of you! -Stop! [To Frank.] Give me my coat! [Frank helps him on with one arm.] Bring the glass! [Frank leaves him so, and brings down a dressingglass.] Leave me, dunderhead. [Exit Frank, R. Enter VORTEX, L. Vor. Bravo, my fine fellow! You fought nobly ;—I say, who fired first? Y. Rap. Never mind; that's past! Vor. Well, now I must entrust you with a little secret. [They sit. Y. Rap. I have no objection to a little secret. Y. Rap. No; I'll read it—I shall read it much quicker. [Reads.] "Received of Mr. Vortex the sum of five thousand pounds, in consideration of which I assign over all my right and title to-hum-um, um—, -Signed, ELLEN VORTEX.". I understand. in Vor. Now, you must know, the father of my nieceY. Rap. Jessy Oatland ! Vor. No, her name is Ellen. [In reverie. Y. Rap. I know it, I know it-I know it. [Fretfully. Vor. Her father died in India. Y. Rap. With all my heart. Vor. With all your heart! Y. Rap. Zounds! keep moving, will you? Y. Rap. Confusion. All was Vor. You are right: all was in confusion. So I prevailed on Y. Rap. Jessy Oatland! pur Vor. No, no, Ellen-to sign that paper; since which, indeed, her affairs have turned out pretty lucky. chased this estate with her fortune, which will be your's, my boy! It was a very snúg bargain. Y. Rap. What a horrible thing is the gift of speech! Vor. Speech! Did you say any thing about a speech? Ah! had you heard mine out.-Do you remember how it began?" Had I met your eye at an earlier hour, I should”— [During Vortex's narration, Rapid, influenced by the most fretful impatience, has unconsciously bit, and torn to pieces, the paper given him by Vortex.] Y. Rap. [Jumping up.] S'death and fire! Is this a time for speeches! Is not your daughter waiting?—Is not ?— Oh, Jessy! For. True, another opportunity! But, oh! 'tis a pretty speech. Well, now give me back the paper. Y. Rap. The paper! Vor. Yes, now you have thoroughly digested the contents of the paper, give it me again. Y. Rap. Oh! the-the-the paper. [Sees it torn on the ground. Vor. Yes; that precious scrap, that secures us a hundred |
