_Lady E._ Must I? Then don"t let me hear a word more--I have aversions enough already--
[_Peevishly._
_Blandish._ It is impossible you can apply that word to one whose only offence is to adore you.
[_Kisses her Hand._
_Enter CLIFFORD._
_Cliff._ [_Aside, surprised._] Blandish so favoured?
_Lady E._ [_Aside._] Perverse accident: what mistakes now will he make!
_Blandish._ [_Aside._] The enemy has surprised me--but the only remedy in such emergences, is to show a good countenance.
_Cliff._ I fear I have been guilty of an unpardonable intrusion.
_Blandish._ Mr. Clifford never can intrude; but though you had not come so apropos yourself--Lady Emily will bear testimony, I have not spared my pains to remove any prejudices she might have entertained.
_Lady E._ Had you not better repeat in your own words, Mr. Blandish, all the obliging things you have said of this gentleman?
_Cliff._ It is not necessary, madam--if without robbing you of moments that I perceive are precious--
_Lady E._ Sir?
_Cliff._ I might obtain a short audience--
[_Looking at BLANDISH._
_Blandish._ [_Aside._] He"s devilish impudent--but he cannot soon get over facts, and I"ll take care the conference shall not be long.
[_To LADY EMILY._]--Lady Emily; hear Mr. Clifford, and judge if I have misrepresented him--[_To CLIFFORD._] When you want a friend, you know where to find him.
[_Exit._
_Lady E._ This is an interview, Mr. Clifford, that I desire not to be understood to have authorized. It is not to me, you are accountable for your actions--I have no personal interest in them.
_Cliff._ I know it well.
_Lady E._ [_Peevishly._] Do not run away with the notion neither, that I am therefore interested in any other person"s--You have among you vexed and disconcerted me, but there is not a grain of partiality in all my embarra.s.sment--if you have any eyes, you may see there is not.
_Cliff._ Happy Blandish! your triumph is evident.
_Lady E._ Blandish, the odious creature--He is my abhorrence--You are hardly worse yourself in my bad opinion, though you have done so much more to deserve it.
_Cliff._ How cruel are the circ.u.mstances that compel me to leave you under these impressions!--nay--more--at such a time to urge a request, that during your most favourable thoughts of me would have appeared strange if not presumptuous.--This is the key of my apartment. It contains a secret that the exigency of the hour obliged me, against inclination or propriety, to lodge there. Should Sir Clement return before me, I implore you to prevent his discovery, and give to what you find within, your confidence and protection. Lord Gayville--but I shall go too far--the most anxious event of my life presses on me. I conjure you to comply, by all the compa.s.sion and tenderness nature has treasured in your heart--not for me--but for occasions worthy their display. Pray take it.
[_Gives the Key, which she receives with some reluctance and exit._
_Lady E._ Heigho!--It"s well, he"s gone without insisting on my answer: I was in a sad flutter of indecision. What mysterious means he takes to engage me in a confidence which I could not directly accept!--I am to find a letter, I suppose--the story of his heart--Its errors and defence--My brother"s name, also--to furnish me with a new interest in the secret, and one I might avow--One may dislike this art, but must be sensible of his delicacy----Ah, when these two qualities unite in a man, I am afraid he is an overmatch for the wisest of us--Hark!--sure that is the sound of my uncle"s coach--[_Looks out of the Window._]
"Tis he--and now for the secret--Curiosity! innate irresistible principle in womankind, be my excuse, before I dare question my mind upon other motives.
[_Exit._
SCENE IV.
_Another Apartment._
_Enter LADY EMILY._
_Lady E._ Oh, lud! I could hardly tremble more at opening this man"s apartment, were there a possibility of finding him within side. How do people find courage to do a wrong thing, when an innocent discovery cannot be prosecuted without such timidity?
[_Approaches the Door timidly, and unlocks it._
_Enter MISS ALTON._
Amazement! Miss Alton! what is all this?
_Miss Alton._ Madam, I was brought here, for an hour"s concealment; who I really am, I would not, if possible to avoid it, divulge in this house. When you saw me last, you honoured me with a favourable opinion--My story, not explained at full, might subject me to doubts, that would shake your candour.
_Lady E._ What shall I do?--She is pale, and ready to faint--I cannot let her be exposed in such a situation.--Retire--you may rely upon me for present security--You know best your pretensions to my future opinion.--[_Hearing SIR CLEMENT._]--Begone, or you are discovered.
[_Shuts her in, and locks CLIFFORD"s Door._
_Enter SIR CLEMENT._
_Sir C._ Oh, the triumph of honour! Oh, the sincerity of friendship!
How my opinions are ratified--how my system is proved!
_Lady E._ Oh, spirits, spirits, forsake me not!--Oh, for a moment"s dissimulation!
_Sir C._ There are some, now, who would feed moroseness and misanthropy with such events: to me they give delight, as convictions and warnings to mankind.
_Lady E._ Of how superior a quality, my good uncle, must be the benevolence you possess! it rises with the progress of mischief; and is gratified (upon principles of general good) by finding confidence abused, and esteem misplaced. Am I not right in attributing your joy at present to that sort of refinement?
_Sir C._ Hah! and to what sensations, my good niece, shall be attributed the present state of your spirits? To the disgust you took to Clifford almost at first sight. It will not be with indifference, but pleasure, you will hear of his turning out the veriest rascal, the most complete impostor, the most abandoned--but hold, hold!--I must not wrong him by superlatives--he is matched too.
_Lady E._ Really!--I congratulate you upon such a check of charity.
_Sir C._ And I wish you joy, my pretty pert one, upon the credit your s.e.x has acquired, in producing this other chef-d"oeuvre--such a composition of the highest vices and the lowest--But your goodnature will, I dare say, easily find palliatives for both parties.
_Lady E._ Come, sir; no more of your sarcasms. I can treat wrong actions with levity, and yet consider them with detestation. Prudes and pretenders condemn with austerity. To the collection of suspicions you are master of, let me add one--In a young lady, of the delicacy and age you have described, always suspect the virtue that does not wear a smile.
_Sir C._ And the sincerity that wears one awkwardly.
_Enter PROMPT, hastily._
_Prompt._ Joy to your honour; I see you have caught her.