_Mari._ Nay--where are you going?
_Louisa._ Alas! any where to avoid him--farewell! and may you enjoy that happiness I have for ever lost! [_Exit._
_Mari._ Poor dear girl! I mustn"t leave her thus--Mr Vapid, we won"t run away till something is done for her.
_Vapid._ Go,--there"s a good girl--follow her, and comfort her.
_Mari._ I will--Lord! if they must be happy in being friends again, what must I be who make them so! [_Exit._
_Vapid._ The picture before me! all from nature,--I must heighten his distress, for contrast is every thing--Peter, not a word for your life.
_Enter NEVILLE._
_Nev._ Vapid, I am glad to see you--any letter from my brother?
[_To PETER._
_Peter._ None, sir.
_Nev._ Nor message?
_Peter._ No, sir.
_Nev._ Then I need doubt no longer--"tis evident he avoids me--cruel, ungenerous Floriville!-- [_Seats himself._
_Vapid._ [_Leaning over his Chair._] Miss Courtney will never see you again.
_Nev._ I know it--too well I know it--that, and that alone, makes me determined to leave this country for ever.
_Vapid._ You are unhappy then?
_Nev._ Completely so.
_Vapid._ Then stop.--[_Sits by him._] She was an angel, Harry.
_Nev._ Ay, a divinity!
_Vapid._ And then to lose her!
_Nev._ [_Rising._] "Sdeath!--don"t torment me!--my griefs are already beyond bearing.
_Vapid._ It will do--he"s as unhappy as I could wish.
_Peter._ I can hold no longer--sir!
_Vapid._ Hush!--you d--d dog, you"ll ruin the catastrophe.
_Peter._ I don"t care--I"ll tell him every thing--sir!--Mr Neville!
_Vapid._ You villain!--Do you ever go to a play?--did you ever sit in the gallery?
_Peter._ Yes, sir, sometimes.
_Vapid._ Then know this is all for your good----you"ll applaud it some day or other, you dog--curse it, won"t he have happiness enough bye and bye?---What--you are going abroad, Neville?
_Nev._ Yes, for ever.--Farewell, Vapid.
_Vapid._ Farewell, Neville--good night----Now for the effect!--Miss Courtney is in the next room.
_Nev._ What!
_Vapid._ Miss Courtney is in the next room.
_Nev._ Louisa! is it possible?
_Vapid._ There"s light and shade!--Yes, your brother brought her here, and she expects him to return every moment.
_Nev._ My brother! then "tis he means to marry her--nay, perhaps they are already married--Heavens! I shall go wild!
_Vapid._ Don"t, don"t go wild--that will ruin the denouement.
_Nev._ No matter--I am resolved--I"ll bid her farewell for ever--Vapid, "tis the last favour I shall ask of you--give her this, [_A Letter._]
and tell her, since I have resented Willoughby"s attack on her honour, I think I may be allowed to vindicate my own; tell her, great as have been my faults, my truth has still been greater, and wherever I wander--
_Vapid._ Here"s a flourish, now!--why you misunderstand--she is not married, nor going to be married.
_Nev._ Come, this is no time for raillery.
_Vapid._ Raillery!--why, I"m serious--serious as the fifth act--she is now weeping on your account.
_Nev._ Pr"ythee leave fooling, it will produce no effect, believe me.
_Vapid._ Won"t it? it will produce a very great effect though, believe me. Zounds! go to her--preserve the unity of action,--marry her directly, and if the catastrophe does not conclude with spirit, d.a.m.n my comedy--d.a.m.n my comedy--that"s all, d.a.m.n my comedy.
_Nev._ "Would to Heaven you were in earnest!
_Vapid._ Earnest! why there it is now! the women, dear creatures, are always ready enough to produce effect--but the men are so curst undramatic.--Go to her, I tell you, go to her.
[_Exit NEVILLE.--VAPID stands aside._
_Enter LORD SCRATCH and FLORIVILLE._
_Lord._ That curst dramatic maniac,--if I see him again----
_Flor._ My dear uncle, consent to Harry"s marriage, and depend on it he shall trouble you no more.
_Lord._ I tell you again, sir, I will not.
_Flor._ Will you give any hopes of future consent?