University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—GROUNDS IN FRONT OF THE MANSION, AS IN ACT SECOND.
Enter on one side Florence and Temple, who listens to her with an air of abstraction. Laura enters on the opposite side.
LAURA
(glancing at Temple).

No; it was not love. The heart that hath once
known it rejects the nicest counterfeit. Enough! I
tire. Yet custom bids us secure the triumph. (Aside.)

Alas! You look not well. You should more consider
yourself—or at least your friends.

FLORENCE.

Indeed, thy cheek looks fevered.

TEMPLE.

The flush of exercise.

LAURA.

Nay, you are agitated and restless.

TEMPLE.

The malady were welcome that obtained me your
pity. (Apart to her.)

LAURA.

How her eyes follow him. Craft! But thou art
matched. (Aside.)

TEMPLE.

Oh, the torture of self reproach! (Aside.)

Enter Osborne, Thornton, Sir George, Lady Parabout and Miss Parabout.
THORNTON.

Miss Delmar here!—Since you have so soon relinquished
your author, I fear he has offended your
taste.

FLORENCE.

So well pleased it that I would have others partake
my enjoyment. Indeed, you should know more of
Walter Ashbrooke.

TEMPLE.

Miss Delmar's wishes are commands.

FLORENCE.

So coldly! He turns from me as if in displeasure.

(Aside.)
LAURA.

Walter! He depend on her favour! This exceeds
endurance. (Aside.)

SIR GEORGE.

Are you sure of this? He has had letters from her!

(Apart to Osborne.)
OSBORNE.

Passionately conceived too, on the faith of these
optics. But this is not all. By the best fortune, as
he knelt to her, she investing his finger with a ring, I
entered with that Antique Envy,—Lady Parabout.

SIR GEORGE.

Did she comment on this?

OSBORNE.

Wonderfully—with her eye-brow. But see! (Directing him to the group.)

She has infected the rest with
her suspicions. The poor child is already avoided.
(As Florence addresses several guests in turn, they one by one incline to her briefly and coldly, and exchange looks with each other.)

FLORENCE.

You remember Walter! Long since you predicted
the laurel to his genius. Your influence might serve
him. (To Laura.)

LAURA.

'Tis unnecessary, fair one. He whom your patronage
distinguishes may dispense with mine. Shall we move?

(To the guests.)
FLORENCE.

There is insult in that tone. All seem to shun me.
And he, he—permits it. (Aside.—Temple approaches her.)

LAURA
(intercepting him).

I wait you.

THORNTON.

Felicitate me. (To Florence. (The rest move on.) Lady Parabout drops her scarf.)

But you are pale
and tremble? Let me support you. (She sinks on his arm.)

THORNTON.

What softness besets my heart! Would she were
less confiding. Her very trust reproaches me.

(Aside.)
Re-enter Sir George, Osborne, Lady Parabout, and Miss Parabout.
MISS PARABOUT.

There's the scarf? (Osborne presents it to Lady Parabout.)

FLORENCE
(collecting herself).

'Twas a moment's dizziness. Thanks, I am recovered.

MISS PARABOUT.

Aunt! That peach must have grown on the sunny
side of the wall. It falls from over-ripeness.

LADY PARABOUT.

They call me censorious. Come little one!

[Lady Parabout and Miss Parabout go out, followed by Thornton and Florence.
OSBORNE.

Do you credit me, now? 'Twill to town, Sir, by
the next mail. Her ladyship is the very whispering
gallery of a scandal.

SIR GEORGE.

I am confounded, but unconvinced.

OSBORNE.

Solve the problem alone. I'll watch the comedy.

[He goes out.
SIR GEORGE.

I would not believe what I must suspect. Knows
Temple this? 'Twere at least a friend's duty to warn
him. This will I do;—no more. I must detach him
from the rest. My affairs are every moment more
urgent. The crisis hangs on the hour.

[Goes out Sir George.