Lord G.And in favour of whom is this desperate act?
Rightly.Of a most dangerous seducer—a little mercenary, that, when she gets hold of the heart, does not leave an atom of it our own.
All.How!
Rightly.[With Feeling.]And there she stands,[Pointing toMiss Clifford.]with a look and an emotion that would condemn her before any court in the universe.
Lady E.Glorious—matchless Clifford!
Miss Cliff.Brother, this must not be.
Cliff.Your pardon, my dear Harriet, it is done. Sir Clement, my sister's fortune is still far short of what you expected with Miss Alscrip; for that deficiency, I have only to offer the virtues Lord Gayville has proved, and the affection she found it easier to control, than to conceal. If you will receive her, thus circumstanced, into your family, mine has been an acquisition indeed.
Lady E.[Coming up toSir Clement.]Now, sir, where's the suspicion! Where is now the ruling principle that governs mankind! Through what perspective, by what trial, will you find self-interest here? What, not one pithy word to mock my credulity!—Alas! poor Yorick—quite chop-fallen.—Forgive me, sir, I own I am agitated to extravagance—You found me disconcerted at the first discovery; I am delighted at the last; there's a problem of my disposition worthy your solving.
Sir C.[Who has been profoundly thoughtful.]Mr. Rightly, favour me with that paper in your hand.
Rightly.Mr. Clifford's engagement, sir.[Gives the Paper:Sir Clementlooks it over, and tears it.]What do you mean, sir?
Sir C.To cancel the obligation, and pay the equivalentto Gayville; or if Clifford will have his own way, and become a beggar by renewing it, to make an heiress of my own for his reparation—and there she stands.[Pointing toLady Emily.]With sensibility and vivacity so uncommonly blended, that they extract benevolence wherever it exists, and create it where it never was before—Your point is carried—You may both fall upon your knees, for the consent of the ladies.
Lord G.[ToMiss Clifford.]In this happy moment, let my errors be forgot, and my love alone remembered.
Miss Cliff.With these sanctions for my avowal—I will not deny that I saw and felt the sincerity of your attachment, from the time it was capable of being restrained by respect.
Cliff.Words are wanting, Lady Emily—
Lady E.I wish they may with all my heart, but it is generally remarked that wanting words, is the beginning of a florid set speech—To be serious, Clifford—We want but little explanation on either side—Sir Clement will tell you how long we have conversed by our actions.[Gives her Hand.]My dear uncle, how a smile becomes you in its natural meaning!
Sir C.If you think me a convert, you are mistaken: I have ever believedselfto be the predominant principle of the human mind—My heart at this instant confirms the doctrine—There's my problem for yours, my dear Emily, and may all who hear me agree in this solution—to reward the deserving, and make those we love happy, is self-interest in the extreme.
Particular circumstances make it requisite to state—that many of the foregoing, one hundred and twenty-five, little Prefaces, have been written, and printed, at periods by no means corresponding with the time of their publication; which depended solely on the engravers of the plates:—In consequence of which arrangement, some of them, that were written first, have been published almost at the conclusion of the work; whilst others that were hastily called for at its commencement, were not originally designed for so early an appearance before the public.—It has sometimes also occurred, that the performers accidentally mentioned in those Remarks, have not been such as the Editor has afterwards placed in theDramatis Personæof the play; with which the writer had no previous concern or knowledge.
[Transcriber's Note:Variants spellings of numerous words are retained as in the original.]