Mr. Courl. Secure that fellow, Mr. Officer. Officer. (tapping him on the shoulder) Yes, you. Hebe. (to the officer) No, no, you don't mean him; He is my brother! you must not mean him, Indeed, indeed you must not! Officer. Why, young woman-— Robert. (to the officer) Don't open your lips, rascal, but do your duty-I will follow you. Hebe. No, Robert, stay-one moment stay; for now I can speak—yes, I can: I will plead for you! Who now will be our benefactor? You, Or you, or you? Harry Courl. (to Mr. Courl.) Look there, sir, and refrain from persecution! Was it not her brother who gave up the bond The debt has not been regularly paid. Harry Courl. Can you be so ungrateful-nay, honest? Mr. Courl. (enraged) Boy! dis Harry Courl. I feel an interest in that angel's peace, And, sir Mr. Courl. Away, no more! Louisa Courl. Ah, then hear me ! Think on the horrors of a prison! You Yourself have just escap'd them, and you must Remember what they were. Mr. Courl. Phough, phough. Louisa Courl. My father! Mr. Courl. Girl, I am not your father. Mr. Courl. Your father Must be in heaven-I've at least good cause Harry Courl. (supporting his sister) Oh, sir, Louisa Courl. Can you Deny us? Mr. Courl. I have told you so already. Mr. Courl. No, I forgot myself: You never have been progeny of mine.now deceas'd One Mervine ance- -an old acquaint He is your father (all start with amazement). Harry Courl. Who? Mr. Courl. Boy, do you doubt? But I have other evidence (stamps). Enter DOROTHY. (pointing to Dorothy) 'tis there. (apart to Dorothy) Now you may speak the truth. Dorothy. Great Heaven be prais'd! Mr. Courl. (to Dorothy) Before this company disclose the secret You know it well- -pertaining to these children. Harry Courl. (to Dorothy) As you believe in an im mortal soul Tell us what you remember of our birth, And who our parents were? Dorothy. I will tell you, I will tell you, sweet young gentleman.- -And (to Louisa)-yes, you are his sister. I must weep: I can't help it, I can't help it! It is many a long year, indeed it is, since I parted with you! Harry Courl. With us? Whose children? Dorothy. One Mr. Mervin's- -he left you in my care. Louisa. Could he abandon us? Dorothy. Alas, he thought I would be faithful.Yes, he did, he did; and I have deceived him.—Well, well just before the death of your mother some business of importance called him abroad; and in six months from that time this gentleman (Mr. Courland), whose wife had died not long before, with threats and promises overpowered my resolution, telling me he wished your father to believe you dead, and persuading me to retire with you to a place far distant from this village. Mr. Courl. (apart to Dorothy) Beware. Dorothy. Yet your father had always loved him, and had been about to settle on him a large estate; when an accident diminished his fortune, and the estate was designed for you. Nevertheless, Mr. Courland still pretended so great a regard for you that poor Mr. Mervin, believing he would be faithful, made over all to him, requesting that as it was a family-estate he would on no account, let your profits be what they might, convert it into money. Fifteen months had barely passed away after his departure, when there came from we knew not where a report of the poor gentleman's death; and Mr. Courland, who readily believed it, finding me resolute against bringing you up to hardship, chose, rather than acknowledge who you were, to call you his own. Accordingly, a woman at the end of a few years was employed to receive you from me, and return with you. as children he had once delivered to her keeping. Harry. (to Mr. Courland) And for what purpose, sir? Mr. Courl. Humanity. Dorothy. No, young gentleman, it was avarice. Dorothy. He could then without suspicion call the estate his own-he soon did this, nay, sold it. He, moreover, told me that you as his children might produce considerable fortunes; and that I should share the profit of your marriages. Mr. Courl. Thou jargon'd fury, it is false ! Dorothy. I swear on my hope in the Almighty's mercy, it is true! Harry. Will you, sir, hazard the same solemn oath? But where's young Worlace?—and this Ambert too? G Dorothy. Sir, you have told me to speak the truth; and I must speak it fully. Mr. Courl. Away this instant, blighted jade, away! [exit Dorothy (to the officer) Perform your duty. [exit Harry. (supporting Louisa, and addressing Hebe as she clasps her hands in silent agony) Wait, a moment wait, thou suffering angel! Hebe. No, I must follow him! [exeunt Officer and Robert, Hebe following Harry. Louisa, be compos'dand there is Frede ric: I'll leave you to his care. Louisa. Oh, no, no, no! Harry. Why not? His nature's form'd to sympathize; Besides, look there at that afflicted spirit! I will release her brother! Louisa Honest pride, Revive my sinking heart with fortitude To bear, with power to resent! Enter FREDERIC WORLACE. Fred. Worl. Louisa Miss Courland then Oh deign an answer to this cold address, Nor fear relapsing love. Louisa. (indignantly) There is no fear. [exit Fred. Worl. For your affection now has chang'd its course. Why was it wont to flow in such pure streams? Fred. Worl. "Twas your determination. Fred. Worl. To separate, but separate as friends. Fred. Worl. (in great agitation) Yet one moment, And then Louisa. (alarmed at his manner)_What? Fred. Worl. (with faintness) We will part for ever! Louisa. Frederic, Are you not well? Speak, and remove my fears!' Louisa. Yes, yes, for you! Fred. Worl. Indeed? (catching her hand, but almost immediately releasing it) (aside) 'Tis but the flash of her expiring love. Louisa. What ails you? You are paleoh trifle not! Fred Worl. Louisa, as these moments mark the term Of our late intimacy, it is not With waking transient flames I would employ them. But two years since a stranger in this country. Louisa. (aside, remembering Courland is not her father) Ah! Fred. Worl. Then my heart submitted to a power, If not love, generous pity, which to me seem'd love, A female. You consent.She owes her birth In a remote and dreary part of Europe, Plac'd in the hands of one esteem'd his friend |