Ash. Lost?
Child. Yes, our cruel landlord has seized on every thing, mother and my little sisters, Jane and Ann, all driven out, must have slept in the fields, if farmer—
Ash. Oh, heavens! my wife and children homeless, starving outcasts—and I no help—
Black. No help! yes the bag—the gold!
Ash. Ah!—yes!—it must, it shall be done! the husband and the parent’s tugging at my heart—oh! be witness heaven! and pardon, pardon the frailties of the man in the agony of the father—come, child, your mother and your sisters, though the trial be a hard one, yet shall smile upon the oppressor.
[Exeunt. R.
SCENE III.—Inside of Prison.
Enter Grayling: he has with him an iron rod.
Gray. So now for my task; this is a day of triumph for me; I could have dressed myself as for a holyday; this Gwinett once dead who knows how time may work upon Lucy; perhaps I had rather the gang had seized and torn the lad away—but they deceived me—they took my money for the service, and have never since shewn themselves; after all it may be better as it is—Gwinett might have regained his liberty—have returned—there’s no marrying with the dead—no, ’tis best—much the best.—
Enter Bolt, the Gaoler. L.