University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

—A room in Mr. Egerton's house.
[Mr. Egerton, Philip, Isabella, Mrs. Beaumont, Francis, and Clara. Wine on the table.]
Mr. Egerton.
Philip, I'll give a toast: you'll drink it, boy,
With heart and soul; and Isabella too
Shall raise the wine-glass to her lips, and smile.
I drink the rightful heir of Langley Park;
And may he live for many many years
Among his friends, in health and happiness.

[They drink the toast.]
Francis.
I thank you, sir. Your hospitable cheer
And this expression of your kind regard
I shall remember long. The sad events,
Which hang still heavily upon our spirits,
Do somewhat overcloud the present hour:
Yet, sir, (I speak, believe me, as I feel,)
There are no better comforters of grief
Than the warm looks and voices of your friends.

Mr. Egerton.
So, Walter still refuses to confess:

Francis.
And such a mass of fiction heaps together,
'Tis hard to glean a particle of truth.

Philip.
His last account is most incredible:
He forged the will, and quarrell'd with his master
About the distribution of the spoil:
Owning so much, why owns he not the rest?

Francis.
'Tis plain enough: he thinks a part-confession
Will get belief for what he doth deny;
And by th' avowal of a lesser crime
He may escape the greater punishment.
But cunning often overshoots the mark.

Philip.
His fate on earth is seal'd. May Heaven forgive him!
But come; 'tis cool and pleasant in the garden:
How say you, madam? shall we ramble forth,
Before the damper shades of evening fall?

Isabella.
Yes, come! The rays invite us thro' the window.
Look, Clara, how the dark green laurels glow
With mellow tints, as if they caught the light
From yonder bush of laughing honeysuckles;
And all the lawn is burnish'd with bright gold.
At noon 'twas sultry, and th' unclouded sun
Scorch'd every leaf and herb: but now he seems
Like some good spirit resting from his task
Of glory. Let us forth: I love to watch
His parting beams upon the distant hills.

[They rise and exeunt.]