Compar'd with this abode a dungeon, for then the light of Heaven would be shut out completely.

Mr. Courl. If you agree to my proposals, say so,

If not

Robert. You'll let me linger here, try to break your own son's heart and break poor Hebe's too? Mr. Courl. Assuredly.

Robert. You will?

Mr. Courl. Assuredly.

But if you agree to my request, that is

Robert. Agree to become hateful to myself-you will show pity for me! Ah, for shame! for shame! Your pity would come too late; like fire to the frozen wretch, twould only increase his misery!(taking the letter from his pocket, and producing the enclosed paper) Here, zir, if you have not forgotten how to read, you may look over this little bit of paper.

Mr. Courl. Hand it me.

Robert. No, I have too great a regard for its safety; but there, read it (holds it before him.)

Mr. Courl. (aside) Hell! an old note that constitutes a claim

From the estate just purchas'd by the stranger! I thought oblivion damn'd it-speak, who gave you this?

Robert. The old rugged gentleman on the hill-they call him Ambert.

Mr. Courl. (aside) Destruction seize him!
Robert. May be, you have seen him.

Mr. Courl. No- -(aside) Curse him!

Robert. However, let us to business: from this debt, which you don't deny, you will subtract what I owe you, and then please to pay down the difference.

Mr. Courl. (aside) Fellow!

In such a case accommodation's usual.

Robert. It is an article you deal so little in you wouldn't know its proper value I am afraid; yet if you have no cash at hand, you can give security: there's your grand mansion, your coach-house, your

Mr. Courl. The premises! I'd sooner pledge my

life!

But follow me; and we'll adjust the affair.

(aside) I must o'ermatch this all sagacious clown!

[exeunt

ACT III.

SCENE I-An apartment in ROBERT's cottage.

Enter HEBE as if just returned from the prisonHARRY COURLAND following.

Harry Courl. Wheu! Hebe, stop-who are you racing with?

Hebe. (turning round) Ah, Harry.

Harry Courl. I have been pursuing you

This half hour.

Hebe. Me?

Harry Courl. (taking both her hands) Yes, for I knew you led

To happiness.

Hebe. Alas!

Harry Courl. What lovely woman
Does not? She may have eccentricities ;
So has the compass that directs our path
In safety through the perils of an ocean.-

But, Hebe, I have been o'ercome with laughing :
Two tatter'd wights in a morass just by-

Why bless me, you don't smile! what is the mat, ter?

Hebe. My melancholy visage must depress you.
Harry Courl. It makes me love you more, sweet
Hebe, it does!

A constant smile is not a flattering omen:
It shows a want of character-as evergreens,
You know, betray the poorness of the soil

They spring frombeen?

-But, tell me, where have you

Hebe. (hardly able to articulate) To see poor Robert.

Harry Courl. Why Robert is your brother, and lives here,

If I may speak from fifteen years' acquaintance.
Hebe. Harry!

Harry Courl. Sweet girl, what grieves you ?
Hebe. Robert is in prison!

Harry Courl. In prison!

Hebe. (falling with faintness into his arms) Yes,

in the county gaol!

Harry Courl. Thou more than angel!

Be not disquieted; I will relieve him.

Hebe. Will you?

Harry Courl. Yes, if I have a soul I will!

Hebe. Then go-ah, go, go, now!I feel much

better.

Harry Courl. Are you quite well?

Hebe. Quite well.

Harry Courl. And quite compos'd ?

Hebe. (trying to smile) Oh yes.

Harry Courl. (viewing her with tears of fondness) You are too tenderly bewitching!

You know not how I love you!

The memory of this (kissing her) shall be the soul
To animate me in your brother's cause.

He shall return with me- -good bye, dear Hebe.

HEBE goes into an inner apartment, while HARRY exit at an outer door-and presently after enter at the opposite door INFERENCE and MOONSHINE, scarcely able to walk and much bespattered with mud.

Inference. The door was on a jar : therefore we enter'd

But not to break the thread of our discussion

Moonshine. (peevishly) I am tired with your logic..

Inference. Mr. Moonshine,

When the Laplander can forget his deer,
Or the Kamschatdale live without his dog;
I will forego the impulse of my nature,
And part with dialectic-To renew

The argument commenc'd ere we were thrown
Into the marshand that we were thrown thither
Is ocularly, sir, demonstrable. (significantly viewing
his own and Moonshine's miry conditions.)

Though if you sceptically doubt the fact-
Moonshine. I tell you, Mr. Inference, once for all,
I do not doubt the fact.

Inference. And yet, perhaps,

You doubt the creatures blind that bore
Against our wills yourself and me headlong
Into the miry marsh- -You doubt it-yes,
From your demeanour I perceive you do.
(Moonshine all this while does not attend to Inference,
but writhes his features as if in considerable pain.)
How shall I prove it?. -there are various ways:
The epichirema and prosyllogismus,
Sorites-nay too, theorems and problems,
That is, positions, sir, demonstrably
Both speculative and e'en practical.
What figure is most suited to your mind?
Barbara, celarent, darii, ferio, quoque, prima,

Or

Casare, camestres, festino, baroco, secunda,
Or

Moonshine. Zounds, Mr. Inference, you have grown stark mad.

Inference, (after a pause of surprise and mortification) Then, sir, I am empower'd to aid you

Whene'er you write your travels through this country.
Moonshine. Sir !

My book of travels is to instruct the world.
Inference. (aside) In falsehood I infer.
Moonshine. Must you be told

I am no incommunicative churl,

No sable substance borrowing a gloom
With every ray of light that is imbib'd?

Re-enter HEBE with her cloak, &c., still on.

Hebe. (aside) Who can they be?—they look like robbers!

Inference. (perceiving her, and apart to Moonshine) Hist!

Hist, Mr. Moonshine, there's a woman's face.

Moonshine. (apart to In.) Well, no great wonder,

sir: we are not in

Constantinople.

Inference. (apart to Moon.) Yet I fancy when I see her

Woman a being just dismiss'd from heaven.

Moonshine. (apart to In.) You mean a fallen angel. (to Hebe) Child, come hither.

Have you aught like refreshment in the house?
Pray, be not under any apprehensions :
We are two gentlemen just from the chase.
The briers and bushes, as you may discern,
Have not been very civil to our habits,

Which do display as many slits and rents

As if they were mere gaps for Time to look through. Hebe. (in a tone of compassion) They do, indeed, sir!

Moonshine. Now, if you will but lead us to your pantry.

Hebe. Indeed, indeed-I-gentlemen, I would; but

Moonshine. Oh, miss, you need not be o'er nice;
For nothing, howe'er tough, can blunt the edge
Of my keen appetite, or-

Hebe. (clasping her hands) I have nothing!
Moonshine. (apart to In.) She is a woman-
Inference. (apart to Moon.) So I conclude.
Moonshine (apart to In.) I have a bauble in my
pocket Here,