SCENE III.

A Chamber in LADY RUBY'S House.

Enter LADY RUBY and WAITING WOMAN.

Lady R. When Lord Sensitive's confidential servant inform'd you of his attachment for Sabina Rosny, did he speak of her as a woman of character?

W. Woman. Oh yes, my lady; he gave the young gentlewoman a very high character.

Lady R. For her discretion, I ask you?

W. Woman. For her good qualities, my lady, her accomplishments, and above all, for her beauty.

Lady R. Pooh! her beauty is out of the question; I am simply talking of her character, of her conduct.

W. Woman. Pardon me, madam, I did not think it handsome to be over-curious about conduct; for I concluded Mr. Carrington too much a man of honour to betray his master's secrets.

Lady R. So it should seem indeed, by his taking you into counsel for the keeping them.-You may leave me. [Exit W. WOMAN.

Enter SERVANT.

Servant. Lord Sensitive delivered this himself, and bids me say he attends to know your ladyship's plea[Delivers a Note.

sure.

Lady R. Very well! (reads it.)-My compliments to his lordship, and if he wishes to walk up, I am at home. [Exit SERVANT.] So! here's another explanation to undergo-Ah! man, man! positively thou art the most irrational, nonsensical animal in the creation.

Enter LORD SENSITIVE.

Lord S. Am I permitted once more to approach you?

Lady R. You have the same permission, my Lord, that you always had.

Lord S. I am sensible my visits can no longer be acceptable to you: where suspicion has taken hold, kindness cannot keep its place; I had therefore determined never to intrude again, but a natural wish to attempt my justification, and, more than all, a natural weakness, which my heart cannot instantly shake off, induce me once more, and for the last time, to solicit an admission.

Lady R. I am happy to see your lordship upon any terms; and I hope you will repeat your visits for the last time so often, that our acquaintance will improve by it.

Lord S. Ah, madam, madam, whilst you can sport with my feelings in this manner, your levity convinces me how indifferent I am to you: nay, 1 believe from my soul I am become your aversion; and I am astonish'd, when your ladyship so well knows the real motives of my visits here, you have not ordered your doors to be shut against so unwelcome an intruder.

Lady R. Pray, my lord, what is our quarrel just now? and why should my doors, that are apt to be open to all persons of honour, and my friends in general, be shut against you in particular?

Lord S. Because I understand some tattling busybody has impressed you with unfavourable notions of my conduct, in an affair, which delicacy forbids me to explain.

Lady R. Then let delicacy prevail with you to forbear the subject. We may be good friends without searching into the secrets of each other's heart.

Lord S. Right, madam; 'tis a compromise that saves us both from an unpleasant task: my heart is not pure enough for your inspection; yours, was I to search it, would disclose all the tender feelings, all the fond unabated affections, that are there glowing and alive for a certain person, who sways it still, tho' absent and neglectful.-'Sdeath, madam! it is a discovery that would drive me into madness, nor will I stoop to friendship where I have once aspired to love!

Lady R. That is sincere, at least you think my nature steady to a first attachment; credit yourself for the same principle, and we have each of us our separate pursuits; they clash no longer.

Lord S. May I then be permitted to ask you one plain question?

Lady R. With all my heart; propose it.

Lord S. Are you not at this moment still so wedded to a first attachment, as to be no longer suscepti ble of any other?

Lady R. That is a question, let me observe to you, that none but the most intimate friend could expect an answer to; how then can your lordship look for it, when you will not submit to be regarded in that character?

Lord S. But if a lover presumed to put such a question, would you wave it in his case?

Lady R. If he was a man I dislik'd, I might perhaps avail myself of so fair an opportunity for getting rid of him; if he was one I esteem'd, I should be sorry to find he had so self-tormenting a curiosity belonging to him.

Lord S. Oh, loveliest of women! ever charming, ever irresistible, pardon my too-anxious sensibility, and pity one who lives but in your sight. I find it is impossible to escape-scorn me, trifle with me, torture me as you will, still I must adore you,

Lady R. Must you be always in extremes? Now you are more intolerable than ever.-Let go my hand, I desire of you.

Lord S. Grudge me not this short respite from my anguish; for pity's sake do not leave me!

Lady R. Positively I must.-Ah! you have crush'd my hand-release it, I beseech you.

Lord S. Spare me these few moments, I am not so presumptuous as to flatter myself they can last.

Lady R. I hardly think they should; I don't believe any human hand could bear to be so squeez'd much longer.

it.

Lord S. Thus let me atone the injury I have done [kisses her hand. Lady R. I perceive, my lord, our interviews should last no longer than whilst we keep up the spirit of controversy; as soon as ever we begin to be of the same mind, it is time we should part.

Enter SERVANT.

Servant. Sir Miles Mowbray begs the honour of a few minutes' conversation with your ladyship. Lord S. There, there, there! all my apprehensions are verified.

Lady R. Hush, hush! -wait without a few moments. (SERVANT retires.)-I confess I'm puzzled to account for this visit.

Lord S. So am not I-His motives are too clear: your fortune is the loadstone; he comes to make proposals for his son.

Lady R. Ridiculous! Go, go, you shall not stay a minute longer; I must admit him.-Who waits? Tell Sir Miles Mowbray, I am at his service.

Lord S. Well, madam—if it must be so, and if Sir Miles's business is so very interestingLady R. Don't be so tiresome.

Lord S. I will obey-And yet-Oh! Lady Ruby, think of me!

[Exit.

Enter SIR MILES MOWBRAY.

Sir Miles. I am your ladyship's very humble servant-greatly oblig'd to you for this indulgence, very greatly oblig'd to you indeed. I am a suitor to your ladyship, under favour, for a few moments of your patience, if my request be not unseasonable.

Lady R. I am entirely at your command, Sir Miles. Be pleas'd to take a chair.

Sir Miles. Not so, my lady; let me entreat you to be seated first.

Lady R. Pray use no ceremony-With your leave I will sit by you.

Sir Miles. I humbly thank you.-In truth, my lady, I do greatly covet to be near you, near in every sense. Believe me, I should greet the moment as the happiest of my life, that connected me and mine in the closest and nearest alliance with your ladyship.

Lady R. Has that always been your wish?

Sir Miles. Madam !-My lady!-Ahem! I am not sure I rightly comprehend your ladyship's question.

Lady R. If I remind you of your past opinion, Sir Miles, it is because I would not have you be deceived as to your present one-I do not think that within the period since vou and I have ceas'd to be acquainted I have any such acquirements to boast of as should induce you to think better of me now that I am a widow, than you did before I was a wife.

Sir Miles. 'Tis a proof of your modesty, that you are pleased to say so; and what is so engaging? 'tis a token of your candour and sincerity (amiable qualities!) and I always did you the justice to say that you possessed them in a very eminent degree. Lady R. Indeed! did you say that?

Sir Miles. I did-I did, upon my soul-I said and I thought it.