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upon the wounded spirit, and lull the throbbing heart

to rest.

Enter SALLY, R.

Sal. [Speaking as she enters.] Oh, now 'tis Mrs. Greville, is it? Did I not say it would be so? Now every thing is as it should be, and my tongue can wag again [To Egerton.] Oh, my dear master-Well, you must tell me how you have been, and where you have been, and-sir [To Greville.] I am entirely satisfied with your conduct, and, to show I am perfectly reconciled, you may, if you please. [She wipes her mouth, Greville smiles, and salutes her.] But here am I talking a heap of nonsense, while he wants rest and refreshment.

Mrs. G. Oh, true.

Ege. Maria! how could I mistake the glow of virtue for the blush of guilt! This lovely cheek resembles that of the chaste queen of night, which can only be illumined by a ray from Heaven. Come, my sister.

[Takes her hand; Sally on the other side presents hers; he smiles, takes it, and exeunt, R.

Gre. Ah! here comes my early, my excellent old friend. Circumstances obliged me to behave harshly to him; but I know the way to his honest heart.

Enter APRIL, L.

Apr. [Softly.] Huzza! he is my own boy again. Ecod, I could jump over the moon. But he shan't see my joy-that is, if I can help it. Ha, ha! No, he has insulted my regard for him, and it demands satisfaction. Gre. (R.) Well, good April!

Apr. [Assuming sulkiness.] Called for orders, sir. Gre. Sir! is that language to a friend, to your own boy? Come, if I have been a little frolicsome, pray who was my instructor.

Apr. [Stifling a laugh, and appearing sulky.] I don't know.

Gre. No; don't you remember the mischievous pranks you taught me?

Apr. Yes-ha, ha !-No, I don't.

Gre. What! not making me fill the apothecary's boots with cold water?

Apr. [Aside.] He! he! he! [Sulkily.] It was not cold water, it was hot hasty-pudding.

Gre. True; and then, April, in our shooting excursions, how you assisted me in climbing the hills. I think I feel at this moment the pressure of your friendly hand upon my infant fingers. I wonder how it would feel [Presents his hand.

now.

Apr. [No longer able to resist his joy, turns round and embraces him.] Oh! my dear Charley boy! [Sobbing.] Now you shall see how merry an old man can be, ha, ha!-The old pye-balled pony is dead, though. Ecod, I'll tell you a good joke. My dog of a grandson has spent every shilling I am worth, ha, ha!-But you look grave.

Gre. Have I not reason!

Apr. What reason?

Gre. Are you, then, ignorant, that by my marriage I forfeit my father's estate to Mr. Undermine?

Apr. Eh! what! forfeit! 'tis impossible.

Gre. Such is my father's will.

Apr. That your father's will ? Then my old master, heaven rest his soul! is gone to the devil to a certainty. But Undermine can't think of keeping it.

Gre. Ah, you then know little of Mr. Undermine.

Apr. But I will know him-ay, thoroughly. There must be villany. I'll to him directly.-He possess the Greville estate-no, no, no! though his majesty has not a more peaceable subject in his dominions than myself, yet, rather than that, I would throttle him to a certainty. Come, come, cheer up. That's right-don't droop; for, while the left side is the stoutest, I warrant it will some how contrive to prop up the other.

[Exeunt severally, Greville, R. April, L.

SCENE II.-An Apartment in Undermine's house.

Enter UNDERMINE, A., meeting ROSTRUM, L.

Und. Well, nephew, I am a made man ; and, if I could but see you married to Miss Sydney

Ros. [Aside.] Now for a little swaggering !-Make yourself easy. I mean to marry her in an hour.

Und. The devil you do! but how will you get April's

consent?

I'll

Ros. [Snapping his fingers.] That for his consent.

carry her off.

Und. You don't say so!

Ros. I will-sink me !

Und. But are you sure of her consent?

Ros. I don't care that for her consent, neither. I'll carry her off, whether she will or no.

Und. Amazing! I didn't think it was in you. But, I say-you must have somebody to assist in carrying her off.

Ros. I will-I'll get two of our auction-porters. Careful fellows-carried home a Venus the other day without the smallest fracture.

Und. Nonsense !-they won't do.

Ros. No? Then I'll get an officer in the army to assist me in the elopement.

Und. That's right-they are us'd to it. Now for management! Take that. Observe-that key— Ros. Is a patent one.

Und. Psha! It opens the escrutoire up stairs. In the right-hand drawer you will find the title-deeds of her estate, which April put into my care; and possession

Ros. Is every thing.-Bravo! This is luck indeed.

[Aside. Und. But stay-I must not seem to consent o your carrying her off.

Ros. Certainly not.

Und. I must resist you, and you must push me about. Ros. I will.

Und. Ah! but may I depend on you?

Ros. You may, upon my soul. Good bye, ha, ha
Und. I say this is management.

Ros. It is.

Und. You'll trick the old one.

Ros. I mean it, I assure you, ha, ha!
Und. I did not think it was in him.

Enter NICHOLAS, L.

[Exit, L.

Nic. (L.) I give you joy, sir, with all my heart and soul.

Und. (R.) Ay, Nicholas, 'tis all settled-so say no, more about it. All quite settled.

Nic. Except the thousand pounds, sir.

Und. What? Oh, true. But at present I have not any cash in the house.

Nic. A check on your banker, sir.

Und. Eh! But without pen and ink

Nic. Here they are, sir.

Und. Well, well-a thousand pounds, isn't it?
Nic. And interest.

Und. Interest!-It has not been due an hour.

Nic. A little interest, sir.

Und. How much?

Nic. Five hundred pounds, sir.

Und. [Aside.] Here's a damned villain.-There's no

need for hurry.

Nic. I am an old man, and have no time to lose.

[Presenting the pen.

Und. [Avoiding him.] You must hire servants.
Nic. I will, sir.

[Pursuing with pen.

Und. I mean to sup in my new mansion.

Nic. You shall, sir.

Und. And let me have a band of music

Nic. I'll go directly. I can hire them in St. James's Street.

Und. Ay, go directly, Nicholas.

Nic. And, as your banker lives in Pall Mall, it will be quite handy.

Und. By and by.

Nic. It must be paid directly; for, being due for a little roguery, it, of course, becomes a debt of honour.

Enter APRIL, unobserved, L.

Und. Zounds! don't teaze so. Interest, forsooth! Consider what an enormous sum a thousand pounds is, for only just popping a will into the fire. I won't be hurried, I tell you. [Exit, R.

Nic. And, if I had popped it into the fire, what a pretty way I should be in. Ah! you had no such fool to deal with. No, it is sewed up safe here in my coat. By day the comforter of my heart, by night the compaaion of my pillow; and it shall not be burnt till the thousand pounds is paid. Ay, and with swinging interest too. [Alarmed.] Ah! Mr. April, I did not see you. Apr. What do you say? I am very deaf.

Nic. I am devilish glad of it. Then all is snug.
Apr. Burnt will!

Nic. Mr. April.

[Aside.

Apr. How to fathom it—

[Aside.

Nic. I say, I shall be steward now-'tis a great undertaking; but I suppose I shall contrive not to lose much by it.

Apr. I dare say you will. A thousand pounds!
Nic. Prepare the tenants for my arrival.

[Aside. Apr. Yes; I'll tell them old Nick is coming among them. What the devil did he say about sewing up?

[Aside.

Nic. The country air may be of service. Apr. Yes, with the help of that you may live some weeks.

Nic. Oh dear! some weeks-a large quantity of years, you mean? Well, good bye, April.

[They embrace, and April lays his hand on the left side, where the will is deposited.

Apr. [Aside.] Eh-what-by heaven, I felt sometying like parchment. If it should be-I'll be convinced. [To Nicholas.] Good bye, Nick- -a last embrace. [Embraces him closely, and feels for the parchment.

Nic. 'Tis suffocation!

Apr. 'Tis parchment.

Nic. Zounds! it had like to have been a last embrace indeed.

Apr. [Aside.] How shall I get at that parchment? I can easily persuade him he is ill-perhaps by that means-I'll try. [To Nicholas.] Once more.

Nic. No, no-there is my hand.

Apr. [Taking it.] Eh! what! good God!
Nic. What is the matter?

Apr. Let me look at you-good God!-Don't be alarmed.

Nic. But I am very much alarmed. Am I ill?
Apr. [Shakes his head.] I dare say you feel-flurried.
Nic. Exceedingly.

Apr. Palpitation at the heart!-'tis parchment !

Nic. Oh yes-very sudden this. I felt quite well just now.

Apr. Did you? That's an alarming symptom; for I have always observed, that nothing makes the physician look so grave, as the patient's saying he feels quite well. My dear friend, send for one directly.

Nic. I don't know what to say. They sometimes save your life; but then it is sure to cost you a guinea.

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