-

Mrs Heidel. No, I warrant you. I thought so. And so his lordship and myself truly, are not to be consulted 'till the last.

Sterl. What! did not you consult my lord? Oh, fie for shame, Sir John?

Sir Fobn. Nay, but Mr Sterling

Mrs Heidel. We, who are the persons of most consequence and experunce in the two fammalies, are to know nothing of the matter, 'till the whole is as good as conclud ed upon. But his lordship, I am sure, will have more generosaty than to countenance such a perceeding -And I could not have expected such behaviour from a person of your qualaty, Sir John. And as for you, brother

Sterl. Nay, nay, but hear me, sister!

Mrs Heidel. I am perfectly ashamed of you-Have you Ho spurrit? no more concern for the honour of our fam maly than to consent

Sterl. Consent? I consent!-As I hope for mercy, I ne ver gave my consent. Did I consent, Sir John?

Sir John. Not absolutely, without Mrs Heidelbergs' concurrence. But in case of her approbation

Sterl. Ay, I grant you, if my sister approved.But that's quite another thing, you know.→← [To Mrs Heidelberg. Mrs Heidel. Your sister approve, indeed!-I thought you knew her better, brother Sterling!What! approve of having your eldest daughter returned upon your hands, and exchanged for the younger? I am surprised how you could listen to such a scandalus proposal.

Sterl. I tell you, I never did listen to it.-Did not I say that I would be governed entirely by my sister, Sir John? And unless she agreed to your marrying Fanny

Mrs Heidel. I agree to his marrying Fanny? abominable! The man is absolutely out of his senses. Can't that wise head of yours foresee the consequence of all this, brother Sterling? Will Sir John take Fanny without a fortune? No.-After you have settled the largest part of your property on your youngest daughter, can there be an equal portion left for the eldest! No-Dлes not this overturn the whole systum of the fammaly? Yes, yes, yes, You know I was always for my neice Betsey's marrying a person of the very first qualaty. This was my maxum. And, therefore much the largest settlement was of course to be made

upon

upon her. As for Fanny, if she could, with a fortune of twenty or thirty thousand pounds, get a knight, or member of parliament, or a rich common-council-man for a husband, I thought it might do very well.

Sir John. But if a better match should offer itself, why should not it be accepted, Madam ?

Mrs Heidel. What! at the expence of her eldest sister? Oh fie, Sir John !-How could you bear to hear of such an indignaty, brother Sterling?

Sterl. I nay, I shant hear of it, I promise you. I can't hear of it indeed, Sir John.

Mrs Heidel. But you have heard of it, brother Sterling. You know you have; and sent Sir John to propose it to me. But if you can give up your daughter, I shan't forsake my niece, I assure you.-Ah! if my poor dear Mr Heidel berg, and our sweet babes had been alive, he would not have behaved so.

Sterl. Did I, Sir John? nay, speak!-bring me off, or we are ruined. [apart to Sir John. Sir John. Why, to be sure, to speak the truth.—

Mrs Heidel. To speak the truth, I'm ashamed of you both. But have a care what you are about, brother! have a care, I say. The lawyers are in the house, I hear; and if every thing is not settled to my liking, I'll have nothing more to say to you, if I live these hundred years.-I'll go over to Holland, and settle with Mr Vanderspracken, my poor husband's first cousin; and my own fammaly shall never be the better for a farden of my money, I promise you. [Exit.

Manent Sir JOHN and STERLING.

Sterl. I thought so. I knew she never would agree to it. Sir John. 'Sdeath, how unfortunate! What can we do, Mr Sterling?

Sterl. Nothing.

Sir John. What! must our agreement break off, the moment it is made then?

Sterl. It can't be helped, Sir John. The family, as I told you before, have great expectations from my sister; and if this matter proceeds, you hear yourself that she threatens to leave us.-My brother Heidelberg was a warm

man;

1

man; and died worth a Plumb at least; a Plumb! ay, I warrant you, he died worth a Plumb and a half.

Sir John. Well; but if I

Sterl. And then, my sister has three or four very good mortgages, a deal of money in the three per cents. and old South-Sea annuities, besides large concerns in the Dutch and French funds.-The greatest part of all this she means to leave to our family.

Sir John. I can only say, Sir

Sterl. Why, your offer of the difference of thirty thousand, was very fair and handsome to be sure, Sir John. Sir John Nay, but I am even willing to

Sterl. Ay, but if I was to accept it against her will, I might lose above a hundred thousand; so, you see the balance is against you, Sir John,

Sir John. But is there no way, do you think, of prevailing on Mrs Heidelberg to grant her consent?

Sterl. I am affraid not.-However, when her passion is abated for she's very passionate-you may try what can be done: But you must not use my name any more, Sir John.

Sir John. Suppose I was to prevail on lord Ogleby to apply to her, do you think that would have any influence over her?

Sterl. I think he would be more likely to persuade her to it, than any other person in the family. She has a great respect for lord Ogleby. She loves a lord.

Sir John. I'll apply to.him this very day.And if he should prevail on Mrs Heidelberg, I may depend on your friendship, Mr Sterling?

Sterl. Ay, ay, I shall be glad to oblige you, when it is in my power; but as the account stands now, you see it is not upon the figures. And so your servant, Sir John.

Sir JOHN MELVIL alone.

[Exit.

What a situation am I in!-Breaking off with her whom I was bound by treaty to marry; rejected by the object of my affections; and embroiled with this turbulent woman, who governs the whole family.-And yet opposition, instead of smothering, increases my inclination. I must have her. I'll apply immediately to lord Ogleby; and if he can but bring over the aunt to our party, her influence

wil

will overcome the scruples and delicacy of my dear Fanny, and I shall be the happiest of mankind.

ACT IV. SCENE I.
}

A ROOM.

-[Exit.

Enter STERLING, Mrs HEIDELBERG, and Miss STER

LING.

STERLING.

WH

HAT! will you send Fanny to town, sister? Mrs Herdel. To-morrow morning. I've giv'n' orders about it already.

Sterl. Indeed?

Mrs Heidel, Positively.

Sterl. But consider, sister, at such a time as this, what an odd appearance it will have.

Mrs Heidel. Not half so odd, as her behaviour, brother. This time was intended for happiness, and I'll keep no incendiaries here to destroy i. I insist upon her going off to-morrow morning.

Sterl. I'm afraid this is all your doing, Betsey!

Miss Sterl. No indeed, Papa. My aunt knows that it is not. For all Fanny's baseness to me, I am sure I would not do, or say any thing to hurt her with you or my aunt for the world.

Mrs Heidel. Hold your tongue, Betsey!I will have my way. When she is packed off, every thing wil go on as it should do.-Since they are at their i trigues, I'll let them see that we can can act with vigour on our part; and the sending her out of the way shall be the purlimanary step to all the rest of my perceedings.

Sterl. Well, but sister

Mrs Heidel. It does not signify talking, brother Sterling, for I am resolved to be nd of her, and I will.-Come along, child! [to Miss Sterling.]-The post-shay shall be at the door by six o'clock in the morning; and if Miss Fanny does not get into it, why, I will, and so there's an end of the matter. [bounces out with Miss Sterling. Mrs

Mrs HEIDELBERG returns.

Mrs Heidel. One word more, brother Sterling!-I expect that you will take your eldest daughter in your hand, and make a formal complaint to lord Ögleby of Sir John Melvil's behaviour.-Do this, brother; shew a proper regard for the honour of your fammaly yourself, and shall throw in my mite to the raising of it. If not-but now you know my mind. So act as you please, and take the [Exit.

consequences.

STERLING alone.

The devil's in the woman for tyranny-mothers, wives, mistresses, or sisters, they always will govern us.-As to my sister Heidelberg, she knows the strength of her purse, and domineers upon the credit of it-I will do this'--and 'you shall do that' and 'you must do t'other, or else the family shan't have a farden of-[mimicking]-So absolute with her money!--but to say the truth, nothing but money can make us absolute, and so we must e'en make the best of her.

SCENE changes to the Garden.

Enter Lord OGLEBY and CANTON.

L Ogle. What! Mademoiselle Fanny to be sent away! Why? Wherefore?-What's the meaning of all this? Cant. Je ne scais pas.-I know noting of it.

L Ogle. It can't be; it shan't be. I protest against the measure. She's a fine girl, and I had much rather that the rest of the family were annihilated than that she should leave us. Her vulgar father, that's the very abstract of 'Change-Alley-the aunt, that's always endeavouring to be a fine lady and the pert sister, for ever shewing that she is one, are hor.id company indeed, and without her would be intolerable. Ah, la petit Fanchon! she's the thing. Isn't she, Cant?

Cant. Dere is very good sympatie entre vous, and dat young lady, mi lor.

L Ogle. I'll not be left among these Goths and Vandals, VOL. III.

C

your