Bevil. I hope, madam, I shall always have the sense to give you leave to expose yourself, as you call it, without interruption.

[Bowing respectfully.]

Indiana. If I had your talents, sir, or your power to make my actions speak for me, I might be silent, and yet pretend to somewhat more than being agreeable, but as it is

HUMILITY.

Bevil. Really, madam, I know of none of my actions that deserve your attention. If I might be vain of any thing, it is that I have understanding enough to mark you out. madam, from all your sex, as the most deserving object of my esteem.

ANXIETY.

Indiana. [aside.] A cold word; though I cannot claim

even his esteem.

RESPECT.

[To him.] Did I think, sir, that your esteem for me proceeded from any thing in me, and not altogether from your own generosity, I should be in danger of forfeiting it. Bevil. How so, madam?

Indiana. What do you think, sir, would be so likely to ◆uff up a weak woman's vanity, as the esteem of a man of understanding? Esteem is the result of cool reason, the voluntary tribute paid to inward worth; who then, would not be proud of the esteem of a person of sense, which is always unbiassed, whilst love is often the effect of weakness?

[Looking hard at Bevil, who casts down his eyes respectfully.] Esteem arises from a higher source, the substantial merit of the mind.

mand it.

Bevil. True, madam, and great minds only can com[Bowing respectfully.] The utmost pleasure and pride of my life, madam, is that I endeavour to esteem you as I ought.

APPREHENSION.

Indiana [aside.] As he ought! Still more perplexing! he neither cures or kills my hope. I will try him a little farther.

QUESTION.

[To him.] Now I think on it, I must beg your opinion sir, on a point which created a debate between my aunt and me, just before you came in. She would needs have it, that no man ever does any extraordinary kindness for a woman but from selfish views.

RESPECT.

Bevil. Well, madam, I cannot say, but I am in the main, of her opinion, if she means by selfish views, what some understand by the phrase, that is, his own pleasure, the highest pleasure human nature is capable of, that of being conscious that, from his superfluity, an innocent and virtuous spirit, a person whom he thinks one of the prime ornaments of the creation, is raised above the temptations and sorrows of life, the pleasure of seeing satisfaction, health, and gladness, brighten in the countenance of one he values above all mankind. What a man bestows in such a way, may, I think, be said, in one sense, to be laid out with a selfish view, as much as if he spent it in cards, dogs, bottle-companions, or loose women, with this difference, that he shews a better taste in expence. Nor should I think this any such extraordinary matter of heroism, in a man of an easy fortune. Every gentleman ought to be capable of this, and I doubt not but many are; for I hope there are many, who take more delight in reflection, than sensation, in thinking, than in eating—

SUDDEN RECOLLECTION.

But what am I doing?

[Pulls out his watch hastily.]

My hour with Mr. Myrtle is come.

HASTE.

Madam, I must take my leave abruptly, but, if you please, will do myself the pleasure of waiting on you in the afternoon, till when, madam, your most obedient.

[Exit.]

XI. The scene between Mr. Bevil and Mr. Myrtle.

COMPLAISANCE.

Bevil. Sir, I am extremely obliged to you for this honour.

ANGER.

Myrtle. The time, the place, or long acquaintance, and many other circumstances which affect me, on this occasion, oblige me, without ceremony or conference, to desire that you will comply with the request in my letter, of which you have already acknowledged the receipt.

COMPLAISANCE.

Bevil. Sir, I have received a letter from you in a very unusual stile, but, as I am conscious

["Conscious of the integrity," &c. may be expressed with the right hand laid on the breast.]

of the integrity of my behaviour, with respect to you, and intend that every thing in this matter shall be your own seeking, I shall understand nothing, but what you are pleased to confirm face to face; you are therefore to take. it for granted, that I have forgot the contents of your epistle.

ANGER.

Myrtle. Your cool behaviour, Mr. Bevil, is agreeable to the unworthy use you have made of my simplicity and frankness to you; and I see, your moderation tends to your own advantage, not mine, to your own safety, not to justice for the wrongs you have done your friend.

OFFENCE.

Bevil. My own safety, Mr. Myrtle?

REPROVING.

Myrtle. Your own safety, Mr. Bevil.

DISPLEASURE.

Bevil. Mr. Myrtle, there is no disguising any longer, that I understand what you would force me to.

FIRMNESS.

You understand my principle. upon that point, and you have often heard me express my disapprobation of the savage manner of deciding quarrels, which tyrannical custom has introduced, to the breach of all laws, both divine and human.

REPROACHING.

Myrtle. Mr. Bevil, Mr. Bevil! It would be a good first principle, in those who have so tender a conscience that

way, to have as much abhorence at doing injuries as[Turning away abruptly.]

Bevil. As what?

IRRITATING.

Myrtle. As fear of answering them.

SELF-VINDICATION.

Bevil. Mr. Myrtle, I have no fear of answering any injury I have done you, because I have meant you none; for the truth of which, I am ready to appeal to any indifferent person, even of your own choosing.

SERIOUSNESS.

But I own I am afraid, of doing a wicked action, I mean, of shedding your blood, or giving you an opportunity of shedding mine, cold. I am not afraid of you, Mr. Myrtle;

PIOUS VENERATION.

But I own, I am afraid of Him, who gave me this life in trust, on other conditions, and with other designs, than that I should hazard, or throw it away, because a rash, inconsiderate man, is pleased to be offended, without knowing whether he is injured or not.

COURAGE.

No I will not, for your, or any man's humour commit a known crime, a crime, which I cannot repair, or which may, in the very act, cut me off from all possibility of repentance.

RAGE.

Myrtle. Mr. Bevil, I must tell you, this coolness, this moralizing, shall not cheat me of my

IRRITATING.

tove.

You may wish to preserve your life, that you may possess Lucinda, and I have reason to be indifferent about it, if I am to lose all that, from which I expect any joy in life; but I shall first try one means toward recovering her, I mean, by shewing her what a dauntless hero she has chosen for her protector.

FIRMNESS.

Bevil. Shew me but the least glimpse of argument, that I am authoris'd to contend with you, at the peril of the life of one of us, and I am ready upon your own terms..

If, this will not satisfy you, and you will make an unlawful assault upon me, I will defend myself as against a ruffian. There is no such terror, Mr. Myrtle, in the anger of those, who are quickly hot, and quickly cold again, they know not how, or why I defy you to shew wherein I have wrong'd

you.

IRRITATING.

Myrtle. Mr. Bevil, it is easy for you to talk coolly on this occasion. You know not, I suppose, what it is to love, and from your large fortune, and your specious outward carriage, have it in your power to come, without much trouble or anxiety, to the possession of a woman of

honour.

JEALOUSY.

You know nothing of what it is to be alarmed, distracted with the terror of losing what is dearer than life.

SARCASM.

You are happy. Your marriage goes on like common business, and in the interim you have, for your soft moments of dalliance, your rambling captive, your Indian princess, your convenient, your ready Indiana!

ANGER ROUSED.

Bevil. You have touched me beyond the patience of a man, and the defence of spotless innocence will, I hope, excuse my accepting your challenge, or at least, my obliging you to retract your infamous aspersions. I will not, if I can avoid it, shed your blood, nor shall you mine;

AUTHORITY.

But Indiana's purity I will defend. Who waits?

SUBMISSION.

Servant. Did you call, Sir?

COMMANDING.

Bevil. Yes, go call a coach.

TREPIDATION with SUBMISSION. Servant. Sir-Mr. Myrtle-gentlemen-you are friends -I am but a servant-but

ANXIETY.

Bevil. Call a coach.

[Exit servant.]

[A long pause, they walk sullenly about the room.]