The Heiress Part 18

_Cliff._ [_In the utmost Agitation, and drawing his Sword._]

Falsehood!--You shall have no other explanation.--[_After a Struggle within himself, CLIFFORD drops the Point, and exposes his Breast._]

_Lord G._ Stand upon your defence, sir--What do you mean?

_Cliff._ You said nothing but my life would satisfy you, take it, and remember me.

_Lord G._ I say so still--but upon an equal pledge--I am no a.s.sa.s.sin.

_Cliff._ [_With great Emotion._] If to strike at the heart of your friend, more deeply than that poor instrument in your hand could do, makes an a.s.sa.s.sin, you have been one already.

_Lord G._ That look, that tone, how like to innocence! Had he not avowed such abominable practices--

_Cliff._ I avow them again: I have rivalled you in the love of the woman you adore--her affections are riveted to me. I have removed her from your sight; secured her from your recovery--

_Lord G._ d.a.m.nation!

_Cliff._ I have done it to save unguarded beauty; to save unprotected innocence; to save--a sister.

_Lord G._ A sister!

_Cliff._ [_With Exultation._] Vengeance! Ample, final vengeance!

[_A Pause._] It is accomplished--over him--and over myself--my victory is complete.

_Lord G._ Where shall I hide my shame!

_Cliff._ We'll share it, and forget it here.

[_Embraces._

_Lord G._ Why did you keep the secret from me?

_Cliff._ I knew it not myself, till the strange concurrence of circ.u.mstances, to which you were in part witness a few hours since, brought it to light. I meant to impart to you the discovery, when my temper took fire--Let us bury our mutual errors in the thought, that we now for life are friends.

_Lord G._ Brothers, Clifford--Let us interchange that t.i.tle, and doubly, doubly ratify it. Unite me to your charming sister; accept the hand of Lady Emily in return--her heart I have discovered to be yours----We'll leave the world to the sordid and the tasteless; let an Alscrip, or a Sir Clement Flint, wander after the phantom of happiness, we shall find her real retreat, and hold her by the bonds she covets, virtue, love, and friendship.

_Cliff._ Not a word more, my lord, the bars against your proposal are insuperable.

_Lord G._ What bars?

_Cliff._ Honour! Propriety--and pride.

_Lord G._ Pride, Clifford!

_Cliff._ Yes, my lord; Harriet Clifford shall not steal the hand of a prince; nor will I--though doting on Lady Emily with a pa.s.sion like your own, bear the idea of a clandestine union in a family, to whom I am bound by obligation and trust. Indeed, my lord, without Sir Clement's consent, you must think no more of my sister.

_Lord G._ Stern stoic, but I will, and not clandestinely; I'll instantly to Sir Clement.

_Cliff._ Do not be rash; Fortune, or some better agent, is working in wonders--Meet me presently at your uncle's; in the mean while promise not to stir in this business.

_Lord G._ What hope from delay?

_Cliff._ Promise--

_Lord G._ I am in a state to catch at shadows----I'll try to obey you.

_Cliff._ Farewell!----

[_Exeunt._

SCENE III.

_SIR CLEMENT's House._

_Enter MISS ALSCRIP, in great Spirits, followed by MRS. BLANDISH._

_Miss Als._ I am delighted at this summons from Sir Clement, Blandish; poor old clear-sight, I hope he has projected a reconciliation.

_Mrs. Blandish._ How I rejoice to see those smiles returned to the face that was made for them!

_Miss Als._ Returned, Blandish? I desire you will not insinuate it ever was without them--Why sure, you would not have the world imagine the temper of an heiress of my cla.s.s, was to be ruffled by the loss of a paltry earl--I have been highly diverted with what has pa.s.sed from beginning to end.

_Mrs. Blandish._ Well, if good humour can be a fault, sure the excess you carry it to must be the example.

_Miss Als._ I desire it may be made known in all companies, that I have done nothing but laugh--nay, it is true too.

_Mrs. Blandish._ My dear creature, of what consequence is the truth, when you are charging me with the execution of your desires?

_Miss Als._ But did you remember the airs of the moppet--Could any thing be more ridiculous?

_Mrs. Blandish._ The rivalship you mean----Rival Miss Alscrip.--He! he!

he!

[_Half laugh._

_Miss Als._ Yes, but when you take this tone in public, laugh a little louder.

_Mrs. Blandish._ Rival Miss Alscrip, ha! ha! ha!

_Both._ Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

_Mrs. Blandish._ [_Wiping her Eyes, as not quite recovered from her Laugh._] For mirth's sake, what is become of the rival?--Whom will you chuse she shall have run away with?

_Miss Als._ Leave it in doubt as it is; fixing circ.u.mstances confines the curiosity to one story which may be disproved; uncertainty leaves it open to a hundred, and makes them all probable. But I hear some of the company upon the stairs: Now, Blandish--You shall be witness to the temper and dignity, with which a woman of my consequence can discard a quality courtship that offends her--

_Mrs. Blandish._ Sweet tempered soul!

_Enter SIR CLEMENT FLINT._