CLARIS. She alone! My dear mother!

MAC. When I had related your story, a young man, your brother I think, rose from his chair, and said, "I wish for no other proof of Clarissa's guilt than this man's presence. He is no other than Captain Macdonald, the accomplice aud agent of Lovelace." At his words, your father and sister rose with indignation. My fatal presence seemed to revive their hatred, and I was driven from their door, without the means of explanation.

CLARIS. Still then, inexorable! But do not weep for me; and you, sir, you see I have found that asylum with your kind cousin, denied me by my own kindred. But my friends, I would profit by my present freedom from pain, to write a few lines.

MRS. S. We will leave you here, miss.

SMITH. Aye; here's plenty of writing materials, and then, we can have a funny story down stairs! eh, cousin? (aside to MACDONALD.)

MAC. (observing CLARISSA) What's the matter, miss? You are pale, can scarcely support yourself!

CLARIS. (with a forced smile) 'Tis nothing, nothing! the joy of meeting you, my friend, the tidings you have brought me. I feel better now, much better. You will return, will you not?

MAC. (supports her to chair at table R.) Oh, yes, yes!
CLARIS. Thanks!

MAC. (aside) She will die! Death is stamped upon her every feature. I will seek the villain, Lovelace, and at hazard of my life, I will avenge her.

MRS. S. Come, Mr. Smith.

(Exit MACDONALD down stairs.

SMITH. I'm here my dear Mrs. Smith, I'm coming. Poor dear girl! What a hard-hearted beast I must have been to have suspected her!

MRS. S. You'll suspect me next, I suppose?

SMITH. You? never! You are a true specimen of worldly wisdom, and connubial responsibility.

(Exeunt MR. and MRS. SMITH down stairs. CLARIS. In this writing, shall they truly recognise Clarissa, in this last adieu to a family which repulses me, that I still love, and shall love until my last sigh! (she sits, draws from her bosom, the paper of which she has been speaking, and slowly reads aloud. Soft music.) "My soul to Heaven! My mortal remains-Oh, father! listen to this earnest prayer-accord me a place in our family tomb,

place me at the feet of your father, who will not have waited very long for the child of his adoption, and of his fondest love!" I bequeath to my dear father, Mr. James Harlowe, all those lands which my grandfather in his will, had left to me. My first intention was to offer them to my brother, and to my sister Arabella; but I have thought they would be glad to possess them, in a manner less direct than from my own remembrance. To my dear mother my truest friend, I bequeath my portrait; it was painted when I had just attained my eighteenth year. I give to you, mother, this portrait of your Clarissa. Accept it; be it's refuge. Alas! it is no longer in it's place. Ascend to the attic, there you will find it's face turned towards the wall, the exiled image of Clarissa, when she was yet but a child, and happy! It is with you, my adored mother, with your name upon my lips, with your sacred image within my heart, that I would terminate. I weep, and sink upon my knees, to speak to you. (kneels painfully) My good, tender mother! May a merciful Heaven accept my humble prayer, that every happiness may surround you until the end of your long existence. Then, mother, you will return to your dear Clarissa. Oh! if you were here beside me-bending over my dying couch, if I felt, with your tears, for you will weep for me, mother, my father and my mother upon my brow; if your loved voices said to me: 'Farewell, daughter!' I should believe that, already the choir of immortal Angels had transported me to the sojourn of eternal repose." (remains kneeling, overcome by her feelings. Noise of tumult and voices without-music-agitato, through following. CLARISSA starting up.) What means the tumult ? those voices?

the double benediction of

LOVE. (speaks without) Now, don't let me disturb you, I'll go up stairs to Miss Harlowe, myself.

CLARIS. Merciful powers! that voice!

SMITH. (without) You can't go up, sir, nobody can go up. (voices again heard, as if in dispute below.)

LOVE. (without) Don't stay me, sir, I tell you I will go up!

CLARIS. Him again! (with horror) Oh, no- - never! never! (she rushes into chamber, R. 3 E., closing the door after her.)

LOVE. (on the stairs) Don't stay me, sir.

SMITH. (on the stairs) But I tell you, sir

LOVE. Go to the devil. (pushes MR. SMITH, who is heard

rolling down the stairs.—Enter LOVELACE, throws himself into chair, near table Ha, ha, ha! What a confounded old fool! (has carelessly taken the will from table, as if to fan himself with it, it catches his eye, he starts) Heavens! (music, twelve bars agitato, during which, he clutches the will convulsively, reading it, he stands immoveable, the paper drops from his hands-his countenance evinces the most profound horror-he falls back in his chair) Dead! Clarissa, dead! (falls, with his head upon the table, and sobs convulsively, then rises) No, no, no! it is impossible!-impossible, do I say? and have not I, infamous villain that I am, have not I subjected her to treatment worse than a thousand deaths ? Oh, yes-dead-she is dead! (despairingly) Clarissa, pardon me, ClarissaClarissa-Clarissa! (CLARISSA suddenly appears at chamber

door.)

CLARIS. (feebly) Who calls me ?

LOVE. All powerful heaven! Is it her spirit that thus appears before me? (the manner, the glare of her eyes, the strong fixedness of her features, all announce that CLARISSA has lost her reason. She sees LOVELACE, gazes on him fixedly for some time, then, suddenly, her countenance lights up with joy, and she goes to him.)

CLARIS. Ah! it is you! Come, hasten, for more than an hour the whole family have been waiting your arrival. Yonder, near the end of the great_avenue-my mother, too! oh! if you but knew how proud she was of her sonin-law! Oh! indeed, 'tis true, that now everybody loves you! (taking his hand) Come, come. (stopping) But no, no! not yet. Let us remain in the garden, see, there! there! both of us-in that grove, and they will come in search of us. (she seats herself, LOVELACE kneels before her) We have so many things to talk about, so much to say to each other, and, first of all, that word, which Clarissa Har. lowe has never yet pronounced-that word which I had resolved eternally to confine within my heart-my Lovelace-my husband. (expansively) I love you! Oh yes, dearly do I love you. Long have I endeavoured to conceal it from myself, and terribly have I suffered. So many sorrows had driven me mad, and a dream (shivering) a horrible dream. Listen! I dreamed that you had borne me from this house, had snatched Clarissa Harlowe from beneath her father's roof! What frightful things we can sometimes dream. You carried me away to a loathsome den, and there-there-(after a pause, passing her hand

across her brow) I no longer know-no longer remember. Oh, the Lovelace of my dream was a wretch, an infamous coward! (joyfully) That was not my Lovelace! Come near to me-yet nearer-nearer still. (kissing his hands in the delirium of her joy) Dear, dear Lovelace, I am your wife. My father has pardoned me, and I am your wife! My dear mother has blessed me, and I am your wife! Oh, 'tis Heaven which opens to receive me!

LOVE. (kneeling) Yes, yes! that happiness shall be ours. I ask it from you on my knees, Clarissa-my wife! (CLARISSA looks at him fixedly.)

CLARIS. Who has spoken to me? What voice was that? What man is this? (uttering a cry, and flying from him) Ah! I recognize you! You are Lovelace! What would

you with me, miserable wretch? You have torn me from my father, but you will not snatch me from death! Go from me, go from me! I hate, despise, I curse you!

LOVE. (still kneeling) Mercy! have pity on me! (rising, and embracing her) Mercy! Clarissa! Clarissa!

CLARIS. (after having cast a look towards LOVELACE, raises her eyes towards Heaven) Oh, Heaven! pardon me-pardon him! (she falls and dies.)

LOVE. (rushing wildly up) Help! She is dead! she is dead! (MACDONALD rushes on, a pistol in his hand.)

MAC. And thou, atrocious villain! shalt not survive her! LOVE. You say truly, but not by your hand will I perish. (he throws himself on MACDONALD, and attempts to wrest the pistol from him, in the struggle it explodes, LOVELACE gives a loud cry and falls dead. MACDONALD, with an expression of awe, gazes on CLARISSA. Tableau, and

CURTAIN

[For Costumes, see next page.

COSTUMES.

LOVELACE.-Act 1: Gold laced green riding frock with cape, high top-boots, powder, gold laced hat. Act 2: Crimson velvet coat, and breeches, white satin vest, white silk stockings, ruffles, &c.

MR. HARLOWE.-Black suit of the time.

CAPTAIN.-Scarlet military suit of the time.

BELTON and Others.-Handsome suits of the time, powder, &c.

SMITH.-Square-cut cloth coat, silk waistcoat, black breeches, white stockings, shoes and buckles, brown George wig.

MRS. HARLOWE.-Black satin dress of the time, lace cap and powder.

ARABELLA.—Figured silk open dress of the time.

MRS. SMITH.-Figured chintz open dress, apron, cap. CLARISSA.-1st dress: Puce silk open dress of the time. 2nd dress: White muslin.

LUCY.-Smart chintz dress, Pamela hat.