And loves him much.

MARIA. Alas! his doom is fix'd:
With everlasting infamy to wait
On him, and his, how innocent soever;
Nor shall I 'scape the bitter tongue of scandal.

Mrs. ANDREWS. Ere that shou'd happen, I'd accuse myself.
Again then, I beseech you, be compos'd.
And now, Maria, I've been just inform'd,
That Jefferson withdrew some hours ago,
And is not to be found.

MARIA. And what of this?

Mrs. ANDREWS. Shou'd it be true, it must be thought by all,
That the discovery of the secret key
Was schem'd by him alone to screen himself.

MARIA. You've quite reviv'd my spirits with the thought.
I think the whole is like to fall on Jefferson.

Mrs. ANDREWS. This night, I am to be at lady Meldmay's;
But lady Belmour claims my first attention.

MARIA. I thought that those unfortunate discoveries
Had lower'd your spirits so, you had resolv'd
To keep at home this night.

Mrs. ANDREWS. Your hit is just.
But it is now too late to send excuse.
Where's my husband?

MARIA. He left the city, early.

Mrs. ANDREWS. 'Tis time to dress--attend me at my toilet------
[They go off.]

SCENE III.

Mr. ANDREWS's house.

LUCIA alone.

LUCIA. I but now met him, and methought he shunn'd me.
Unusual this from his most gentle nature.
But deep distress seem'd on his brow imprinted,
And rumours are unkind to him of late,
Though none stood higher once in fair repute.
O Jefferson! would I cou'd tear thee hence,
From this fond heart, and its lost peace restore!---
But soft! I hear my dear Constantia's voice.

Enter CONSTANTIA.

CONSTANTIA. O Lucia! I'm of women most unhappy;
No more must I of that chos'n youth have hope,
In whom my ev'ry thought, my soul is center'd.

LUCIA. You quite astonish me--it cannot be.
Even the day was fix'd for your espousals.

CONSTANTIA. O! but lord Belmour, his relentless uncle,
Hath just now charg'd my father, that henceforth
His visits here be countenanced no more;
Vowing most solemnly, that shou'd we wed,
He'd disinherit him. Besides in speech
He hath much flighted us.

LUCIA. Most distressful!

CONSTANTIA. From such examples, Lucia, we may learn
To dread those prospects of illusiv