Next Door Neighbours Part 10

ELEANOR. [_Going to_ WILLFORD _and taking his hand_.

Oh, my father!--Oh! I cannot----I cannot speak.

WILLFORD.

Wherefore?--Explain this moment, what agitates you thus.

ELEANOR.

You must return to confinement again.

WILLFORD.

How?

ELEANOR.

The money that has set you free, was given for the basest purposes--and by a man as far beneath you in principle, as you are beneath him in fortune. Disdain the obligation--and come my father, return to prison.

WILLFORD.

Yes.--And with more joy than I left it. (_To_ SIR GEORGE) Joy, in my daughter's virtuous contempt of thee. (_To his children_) Leave the house instantly.

[_Exit_ HENRY _and_ ELEANOR.

WILLFORD. [_Addressing himself to_ SIR GEORGE.

Your present is but deposited in a lawyer's hands, whose word gained me my liberty--he shall immediately return it to you, while I return to imprisonment.

SIR GEORGE.

If the money is in a lawyer's hands, my good friend, it may be some time before you get it returned. [_Going._

WILLFORD.

Stay, Sir George--(_he returns_) And look me in the face while you insult me. (SIR GEORGE _looks on the floor_.) You cannot.--I therefore triumph, while you stand before me abashed like a culprit.--Yet be a.s.sured, unthinking, dissipated man, that with all your insolence and cruelty towards me and mine, I have still the charity to rejoice, even for your sake, at seeing you thus confounded. This shame is at least one trait in your favour; and while it revenges my wrongs, gives me joy to find, you are not a _hardened_ libertine. [_Exeunt._

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

ACT III.

SCENE I. _The apartment at_ SIR GEORGE SPLENDORVILLE'S, _where the night has been pa.s.sed at play--Several card-tables with company playing_--SIR GEORGE _and_ LADY CAROLINE _at the same table_. SIR GEORGE _rises furiously_.

SIR GEORGE.

Never was the whole train of misfortunes so united to undo a man, as this night to ruin me. The most obstinate round of ill luck----

MR. LUCRE. [_Waking from a sleep._ What is all that? You have lost a great deal of money, I suppose?

SIR GEORGE.

Every guinea I had about me, and fifteen thousand besides, for which I have given my word.

MR. LUCRE.

Fifteen thousand guineas! and I have not won one of them.--Oh, confusion upon every thing that has prevented me.

SIR GEORGE. [_Taking_ LADY CAROLINE _aside_.

Lady Caroline, you are the sole person who has profited by my loss.--Prove to me that your design was not to ruin me; to sink me into the abyss of misfortune,--prove to me, you love me in return for all my tender love to you. And (_taking up the cards_) give me my revenge in one single cut.

LADY CAROLINE.

If this is the proof you require, I consent.

SIR GEORGE.

Thank you.--And it is for double or quit.--Thank you. [_She shuffles and cuts._

SIR GEORGE.

Ay, it will be mine--thank you.--I shall be the winner--thank you.

(_He cuts--then tears the cards and throws them on the floor._) Destraction!--Furies of the blackest kind conspire against me, and all their serpents are in my heart.--Cruel, yet beloved woman! Could you thus abuse and take advantage of the madness of my situation?

LADY CAROLINE.

Your misfortunes, my dear Sir George--make you blind.

SIR GEORGE. [_Taking her again aside._ No, they have rather opened my eyes, and have shown me what you are.--Still an object I adore; but I now perceive your are one to my ruin devoted.--If any other intention had directed you, would you have thus decoyed me to my folly?--You know my p.r.o.neness to play, your own likelihood of success, and have palpably allured me to my destruction.

Ungrateful woman, you never loved me, but taught me to believe so, in order to partake of my prodigality.--Do not be suspicious, madam; the debt shall be discharged within a week.

LADY CAROLINE. [_With the utmost indifference._ That will do, sir--I depend upon your word; and that will do. [_Exit curtsying._

SIR GEORGE.

Ungrateful--cruel--she is gone without giving me one hope.--She even insults--despises me.

MR. LUCRE. [_Coming forward._ Indeed, my dear friend, I compa.s.sionate your ill luck most feelingly; and yet I am nearly as great an object of compa.s.sion on this occasion as yourself; for I have not won a single guinea of all your losses: if I had, why I could have borne your misfortune with some sort of patience.

LADY BRIDGET.

My dear Sir George, your situation affects me so extremely, I cannot stay a moment longer in your presence. [_Goes to the door, and returns._] But you may depend upon my prayers. [_Exit._

LORD HAZARD.

Sir George, if I had any consolation to offer, it should be at your service--but you know--you are convinced--I have merely a sufficiency of consolation--that is, of friends and of money to support myself in the rank of life I hold in the world. For without that--without that rank--I sincerely wish you a good morning.

[_Exit_ LORD HAZARD.

SIR GEORGE.

Good morning.

[_The company by degrees all steal out of the room, except_ Mr. LUCRE.

SIR GEORGE. [_Looking around._ Where are all my guests?--the greatest part gone without a word in condolence, and the rest torturing me with insulting wishes. Here!

behold! here is the sole reliance which I have prepared for the hour of misfortune; and what is it?--words--compliments--desertion--and from those, whose ingrat.i.tude makes their neglect still more poignant.

[_Turns and perceives_ Mr. LUCRE.] Lucre, my dear Lucre, are not you amazed at what you see?

MR. LUCRE.

No, not at all--'tis the way of the world--we caress our acquaintances whilst they are happy and in power, but if they fall into misfortune, we think we do enough if we have the good nature to pity them.

SIR GEORGE.

And are you, one of these friends?