The Nephews: A Play, in Five Acts. Part 19

_ACT V._

SCENE I.

Apartment at Mr. Drave's House.

Mrs. DRAVE.--AUGUSTA.

(Augusta entering with a letter in her hand, which she gives to her Mother.)

_Augusta._ Here is a letter from Philip Brook's landlord.

_Mrs. D._ [reads]--How!

_Augusta._ What does it contain?

_Mrs. D._ I'll read it you. "Madam---Counsellor Fleffel has come with a warrant to examine Mr. Brook's apartment. He has forced the locks of his bureau and drawers, and seized the papers. I think they must be of great importance, for he is in a violent pa.s.sion, and talks of treasonable practices, of libels, of revenge."----Our worthy friend, too, the prey of powerful enemies! It is hard.

_Augusta._ But what can he have to apprehend from them?

_Mrs. D._ The abuse or suppression of his papers.

_A Servant entering._ Mr. Lewis Brook, Ma'am, wishes to see you.

_Mrs. D._ [angrily]. How? he dares----

_Serv._ I denied you twice, but he insists on seeing you.

_Mrs. D._ Tell him I can have no concern with one who has acted as he has done. [Exit Servant.

_Augusta._ His very name terrifies me so much.--

Enter LEWIS with the Servant.

_Lewis._ I must speak to her [perceiving Mrs. D. he casts his eyes upon the ground. Augusta hastily leaves the room].

_Mrs. D._ Frederick, did you deliver my answer to the gentleman?

_Lewis._ He did; but, Madam--pray leave us Frederick--[Exit Servant]. I beg, Madam----

_Mrs. D._ What do you desire? Have you any demands upon me in particular? [shrugs her shoulders]. I am unable to pay, for they have taken every thing from me.

_Lewis._ You think me a villain: you are deceived; let me therefore explain----

_Mrs. D._ Explain, Sir? This empty room, our misery, my husband in prison these are explanations sufficient.

_Lewis._ As my presence is so disagreeable to you, I will immediately retire.--But let me first promise you, that the day I come of age, I will entirely restore what you have lost. [Lays a paper on the table].

I leave with you this paper, legally drawn up to that effect. Thus I hope to make reparation for my want of thought, and for the uneasiness I have caused. [Going.

_Mrs. D._ One moment, Mr. Brook! [She takes the paper and reads it].

You restore all, you say?

_Lewis._ Yes.

_Mrs. D._ Our confidence in mankind, which you have destroyed; our honour, of which you have robbed us; our credit, which you have blasted; can you restore these? Can you erase the deep characters of misery from the heart of an afflicted husband? Can you restore a wretched daughter, once more in the bloom of health, to her parents arms? Will you restore all this, with this paper?

_Lewis._ If you accuse me of all this, Madam, you are unjust, and I must speak.

_Mrs. D._ Speak, Sir.

_Lewis._ What I do, I will freely confess, is not so much for Mr.

Drave as for your and Augusta's sake. His abuse of my property, his secret plans to undo one brother by the other--that, Madam, that hurts me.--With respect to what has happened, G.o.d be my witness, that I had not the smallest presentiment of it. I am frail, and I have erred; yet I hope I now atone for my fault.

_Mrs. D._ This requires an answer. My husband, who placed this sum with the most respectable house in the city, in order to provide a better fortune for his prodigal ward--who, unsolicited, in order to secure this ward from all accidents, gave security to the amount of all he was worth, and who now makes it good with the loss of all his fortune--he is an honest man.

_Lewis_ [astonished]. Gave security?

_Mrs. D._ [not attending to him]. A perverted mind may misinterpret his actions. Kindnesses bestowed on the ungrateful will one day have their reward.--A man like my Drave can lay his hand on his heart, and look with hope to the day when he shall appear before his Almighty Judge; he can, amidst all his losses, despise such a wretched thing as this--[She tears the paper in two, and drops it on the ground].

_Lewis._ I am astonished. Mr. Drave gave security?

_Mrs. D._ He did.

_Lewis._ That, Madam, was entirely unknown to me.

_Mrs. D._ Henceforth we have nothing to say to each other; but, before we part, let me remember one thing--You once made a serious application to me concerning my daughter.

_Lewis._ Pray, Madam----

_Mrs. D._ It is over--an abused mother, a deceived fool more or less, what does it signify to a man of fas.h.i.+on? The girl may weep; the mother may be angry--your companions will laugh at such gallantry--why should you alter your conduct?

_Lewis._ You touch closely there--[hastily]. No, that is too much.

[With intreaty] Madam, for G.o.d's sake----

_Mrs. D._ You, Mr. Brook, who never gave us a single hour's comfort, you have reduced us to misery in a single hour. It hurts not your feelings, to see your foster parents ruined, undone by the son of her who was my dearest friend and your mother; by the son of Maria!

_Lewis._ Oh, forbear!

_Mrs. D._ You have feigned love to my daughter, have vowed fidelity to her: she loves, and must ever love you.--You forsake her now--She will decline by degrees, and at length sink into her grave, which perhaps--we must beg for her.

_Lewis._ Oh, cease! cease!

_Mrs. D._ Should you become a husband, a father--then, when you regard your child as I now do mine, may the remembrance of these moments never sit heavy on your heart!--Now my last word: I release you from all your promises--I forgive you. With this wish let us part for ever--G.o.d forgive you, as I do! [Going.

_Lewis_ [detaining her]. Oh, Madam! had not Mr. Drave been so unkind to me, I should now perhaps have been happy with Augusta!--Yes, yes, I love her still; and Heaven be my witness----

_Mrs. D._ Do not mistake me; I mean not to awaken compa.s.sion for my daughter. If you arc sincere, restore my husband.

_Lewis._ I here vow----