e house.

ANDREWS. Can I now pass that way?

CLERK. You may; I lock'd the doors, and have the keys.

ANDREWS. Come, deep and sweet revenge! 'twere virtue here. [Aside]
It must be near the dawn. Go on, I'll follow.
Life's now a curse; death then my only wish.

SCENE III.

Mr. ANDREWS's house.

THOMAS and MARIA.

MARIA. Who releas'd you?

THOMAS. Our unhappy master.

MARIA. Is he in town, and up at this late hour?

THOMAS. He's in the house; and heaven grant, Maria,
He holds his reason: for he rush'd impetuous,
With looks as madness wild, into the room,
Where I sat tied; when falling on his knees,
He crav'd my pardon; then, from my bruis'd arms
He cut the cords, and hastily ran off.

MARIA. Which way?

THOMAS. Towards the compting-house.

MARIA. O heav'n!

THOMAS. Why this alarm?

MARIA. His arms are there.

THOMAS. 'Tis true,
And never man appear'd more desperate.
Wherefore, as ev'n a moment's loss were dangerous;
I'll for his neighbours speed, Wilson and Goodwin. [He goes off.]

MARIA. The mischief is at hand, and 'twill require
My deepest skill, or I'm undone for ever.
But to the last I will assert my innocence. [A bell rings.]
This is my mistress, and from her bedchamber. [Rings again.]
Again it rings; and with unusual violence.--
I must away--What fights may meet me now!-- [She goes off.]

SCENE IV.

Another apartment.

CONSTANTIA and LUCIA.

CONSTANTIA. Oh! Lucia, Lucia, I shall die with terrours--
What can these noises mean? [A groan is heard.] Heard you
that groan?

LUCIA. Sure life expir'd with it!--A woman's voice--

Enter hastily WILSON and GOODWIN, THOMAS and other Servants,
at which CONSTANTIA and LUCIA shriek.

CONSTANTIA. Protect us, heaven!--what are you?

WILSON. A messenger,
In utmost hurry rous'd us from our beds,
And pray'd us to haste hither with all speed,
To save a family.

CONSTANTIA. Oh sirs!--heav'n grant
'Tis not too late--some sad event, I dread-- [A groan, and
then another]
They're from the room where Mrs. Andrews sleeps. [CONSTANTIA
swoons, and is taken of with LUCIA.]

Enter MARIA.

MARIA. Woe! woe unut