Vio. What, Lewson? the brave, generous, honourable Lewson!

Paterson. Lewson! Lewson! as sure as can be, you mean young Belfield; for now the recollection strikes me, that I've heard he took that name before he quitted England. That Lewson, madam, whom we believed you married to, is Robert Belfield, the younger brother to your husband.

Vio. Mercy defend me! into what distress had this mutual mistake nearly involved us?

Paterson. Come then, madam, let us lose no time, but fly, with all despatch, to Cropley Castle; I have a postchaise waiting, which will convey us thither in a few minutes: but, before we go, I'll step in and direct these good people to find young Belfield, and send him after us.-Old Ironsides and all must be there. [Exit.

Vio. Let me reflect upon my fate-wedded, betrayed, abandoned! at once a widow and a wife-all that my soul held dear, in the same hour obtained and lost. O false, false Belfield!-Strong, indeed, must be that passion, and deeply seated in my heart, which even thy treachery could not eradicate!Twice shipwrecked! twice rescued from the jaws of death!--Just Heaven! I do not, dare not, murmur; nor can I doubt but that thy hand invisibly is stretched forth to save me; and, through this labyrinth of sorrow, to conduct me to repose.

Enter PATERSON.

Paterson. Now, madam, if you will trust yourself to my convoy, I'll bring you into harbour, where you shall never suffer shipwreck more.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

SIR BENJAMIN DOVE'S House.

Enter SIR BENJAMIN and LADY DOVE.

Sir Benj. Upon these terms and stipulations, Lady Dove, I consent to your remaining at Cropley Castle. Enjoy you your own prerogative, and leave me in possession of mine; above all things, my dear, I must insist that Mr. Paterson be henceforward considered as my friend and companion, and not your ladyship's.

Lady D. Nay, but indeed and indeed, my dear Sir Benjamin, this is being too hard with me, to debar me the common gratifications of every woman of distinction: Mr. Paterson, you know, is my very particular friend.

Sir Benj. "Tis for his being so very particular, my dear, that I object to him.

Lady D. Friendship, Sir Benjamin, is the virtuous recreation of delicate and susceptible minds; would you envy me that innocent pleasure? Why, you know, my dearest, that your passion for me, which was once so violent, is now softened and subsided into mere friendship.

Sir Benj. True, my dear; and, therefore, I am afraid, lest my love having, by easy degrees, slackened into friendship, his friendship should, by as natural a transition, quicken into love; say no more, therefore, upon this point, but leave me to Mr. Paterson, and Mr. Paterson to me;-go-send Sophia to me-oh, here she comes: your ladyship need not be present

at our conference; I think my own daughter surely belongs to my province, and not yours.-Good morning to you. [Exit LADY Dove.

Enter SOPHIA.

Sir Benj. Well, daughter, are you prepared to comply with my desires, and give your hand to Andrew Belfield this morning?

Sophia. Sir!

Sir Benj. My heart is fixed upon this event; I have watched late and early to bring it to bear; and you'll find my child, when you come to peruse your marriage settlement, how tenderly I have consulted your happiness in this match.

Sophia. Alas! I should never think of searching for happiness amongst deeds and conveyances; 'tis the man, and not the money, that is likely to determine my lot.

Sir Benj. Well, and is not Mr. Belfield a man? a fine man, as I take it he is, and a fine estate I'm sure he has got: then consider, likewise, how this alliance will accommodate matters in the borough of Knavestown, where I and my family have stood three contested elections with his, and lost two of them; that sport will now be at an end; and our interests will be consolidated by this match, as well as our estates.

Sophia. Still you mistake my meaning; I talk of the qualities of a man-you of his possessions; I require in a husband, good morals, good nature, and good sense; what has all this to do with contiguous estates, connected interests, and contested elections?

Sir Benj. I don't rightly understand what you would have, child; but this I well know, that if money alone will not make a woman happy, 'twill always purchase that that will. I hope, Sophy, you've done thinking of that rambling, idle young fellow, Bob Belfield.

Sophia. Perish all thought of him for ever!

Nothing can be more contrary, more impossible in nature, than my union with young Belfield: age, ugliness, ill nature, bring any thing to my arms, rather than him.

Sir Benj. But why so angry with him, child ?— This violent detestation and abhorrence, is as favourable a symptom as any reasonable lover could wish for.

Enter PATERSson.

Paterson. Joy to you, Sir Benjamin! all joy attend you both! the bridegroom by this time is arrived; we saw his equipage enter the avenue, as ours drove into the court.

Sir Benj. Mr. Paterson, sir, I know not if yet your friend is to be a bridegroom; I find my daughter, here, so cold and uncomplying, for my own part, I don't know how I shall look Mr. Belfield in the face.

Paterson. Fear nothing, Sir Benjamin: make haste and receive your son-in-law: I have news to communicate to Miss Dove, which, I am confident, will dispose her to comply with your wishes.

Sir Benj. Well, sir, I shall leave her to your tutorage. This obliging gentleman undertakes not only for my wife, but my daughter too. [Exit.

Sophia. I am surprised, Mr. Paterson

Paterson. Hold, madam, for one moment: I have made a discovery of the last importance to your welfare; you are in an error with regard to young Belfield.-Violetta, the lady you believed him married to, is here in the house; I have brought her hither at your request; and from her I learn, that the elder brother is her husband-he who this very morning, but for my discovery, had been yours also.

Sophia. What's this you tell me, sir? Where is this lady-where is Violetta? where is young Belfield?

Paterson. Violetta, madam, I have put under safe convoy; and, by this time, your waiting woman has lodged her privately in the closet of your bedchamber: there you will find her, and learn the whole process of this providential escape. a word to Sir Benjamin, and come any further delay.

I'll only speak to you without [Exit SOPHIA.

Enter SIR BENJAMIN DOVE and BELFIELD Sen.

Sir Benj. Well, Mr. Paterson, what says my daughter?

Paterson. Every thing that becomes an obedient daughter to say so, that if this gentleman is not made completely happy within this hour, the fault will lie at his door, and not with Miss Sophia.

Sir Benj. This is good news, Paterson; but I am impatient to have the ceremony concluded; the bells are ringing, the parson is waiting, and the equipages are at the door: step up to Sophia, and tell her to hasten; and harkye, my friend, as you go by Lady Dove's door, give her a call; do you mind me, only call at the door: don't you go in; she's busy at work upon a large parcel of ribbons, which I've given her to make into wedding favours; she'll be very angry if you go into her chamber. Go, go, get you gone. [Exit PATERSON. Belf. How comes it to pass, Sir Benjamin, that Mr. Paterson is become so necessary an agent in the female affairs of your family? I confess to you my pride is wounded, when I find I am to thank him for your daughter's consent to marry me. The man that can prevail upon a woman to act against her liking, what may he not persuade her to do with it?

Sir Benj. Your remark is just; Paterson has certainly some secret faculty of persuasion; and all that can be said is, that 'tis better to see your danger before marriage, than to be feeling it out, as I have done, afterwards.