been bribed to introduce him. Nicholas is wholly gone over to them.

Gen. But how did you know all this? Flora. The Marquis was hid in one of the chests. I wanted to have a peep at the fine things, and saw him. Oh! I shall never recover my fright.

Gen. One of the chests is gone.

Flora. Yes; as soon as Nicholas found I knew all, he called up Mathias, and made him take away the chest, in spite of my tears and cries; for poor Mathias, you know, could not hear me ; and then I fainted, and could not come to you.

Gen. Faithful creature! Oh that villain, Nicholas! why, he is worse than old Cecily. Poor Flora! poor thing! take this purse as a reward for thy fidelity. [don't, sir. Flora. Oh, sir, I don't deserve it; indeed, I Gen. Take it, take it, I say; you shall have it. I punished old Cecily; and, by the same rule, I ought to reward you. [are too good to me. Flora. Since you desire it, sir; but, indeed, you Gen. Say no more, but step to my niece, while I run and see that the door is safe; for, while so many of my house have turned against me, I have every thing to fear. But you-you are a miracle of faith; and henceforth all my confidence shall be placed in you alone. Flora. Why, indeed, sir, I must own few servants could have done as I have done; and yet you think too well of me. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Moonlight. A Garden, two tents or pavilions on each side of the stage, a wall at the bottom of the stage, and a hedge at a little distance from it. SEBASTIAN discovered, descending from the wall by the arbour-work fastened to it.

1

Seb. Here I am safe. (Calls in a whisper.) Flora, Flora! This is the very minute she appointed in her note. How can she be so slow, when

we have such little time left. The clocks have now all struck eleven; and in one hour more, it will be midnight, and our doom fixed. Oh, midnight, midnight! twelve o'clock, twelve o'clock! During this season of the year, she and her young lady sleep in this pavilion; and the old General and Ambrose sleep in this. In a country town such as this, every body has been in bed an hour ago; therefore, unless the family sit up to watchNo, here she comes-'Sdeath! and the old General with her. What shall I do? (Trying to ascend the wall, falls; then hides behind the hedge.) Here,

here, here.

Enter the GENERAL, AMBROSE, with Julia's clothes, and FLORA, from the pavilion, left hand. Flora. Dear sir, it is only eleven o'clock; I beg you will sit up till twelve.

Gen. No, no, I'll sit up no longer; my fears are as much quieted for this night, as if the clock had already struck twelve.

Flora. Ay, sir, but there is no being sure. Gen. While there was a cause for apprehension, I was as cautious as anybody; but now my niece is safe in bed, and I have had the precaution to bring away her clothes, even if she had an opportunity of going away, she could not go without them; besides, her windows are grated, her door locked, and I have the key in my pocket.

Flora. But, sir, she may still

Gen. Why, yes, she may still go out at the chimney; for that I have not guarded against; but if she does, Flora, I'll forgive her. No, no, I'll go to bed; the Marquis shall not have to boast that he kept me up an hour after my usual time; to-morrow it will add to my triumph to tell him, I went to bed at my usual hour.

self by playing on my lady's guitar; and if you should chance not to sleep, you will find, by my music, I cannot sleep either, while any danger threatens you.

Gen. Good girl, good girl.

Flora. Here, sir, is the key of this pavilion; lock me up, I beseech you, too, lest any fatal thing should happen, notwithstanding your precaution, and I be suspected.

Gen. Impossible I should suspect you; no, no. Flora. Pray, sir, take the key: indeed you had better lock me up; you had indeed, sir. (Forcing the key upon him.)

Amb. Lock her up, lock her up, sir; I don't think it would be at all amiss.

Gen. Well then, Flora, since you desire it. (Takes the key.)

Flora. Thank you, sir, thank you; good night, sir: (curtsying) now my conscience is safe. [Exit into the pavilion, left hand; the General locks the door.

Gen. Come, Ambrose, I now feel my mind pretty easy: I am only sorry Don Carlos is not yet come, for his ship is certainly arrived; however, he won't come till the morning now, to be sure.

Amb. (Yawning.) No, he won't come till the morning, now, to be sure. [Exeunt into the pavilion. Sebastian comes forward from behind the hedge.

Seb. Oh, what a rage I am in; and, if I was not afraid the General and his crippled attendant would overhear me, I would so abuse-(Goes to Flora's pavilion, and speaks through the key-hole.)-Flora, snake, crocodile! I hate you, abhor you! Oh, Flora! (Calling softly.) You serpent, you viper, you good-for-nothing-Oh, that I had you here. Enter FLORA from a window in the pavilion, taking away a large iron bar, goes up to Sebastian, and strikes him on the shoulder.

Flora. And here I am.

Seb. What do I see? Why, where, for heaven's sake, did you come from?

Flora. From the pavilion.

Seb. Not at the door?

Flora. At the door! do you think I did? I have a genius above such common methods; I came by the window, and had the dexterity to move that iron bar, as large

Seb. But have you had the dexterity to take the bar from your mistress's chamber?

Flora. No, that is fast yet; and yet she is out. Seb. By what means?

Flora. The General, thinking he had nothing to fear if he once saw her in bed, as soon as she pulled off her clothes, he seized them and carried them out of the room; she stept behind one of the curtains; I drest the bolster in her night-cap; the old man put his head forward, and wished it a

66

good night;" that instant she stole out of her chamber, and flew to mine. I lighted him out of her's; he double-locked the door; run to tell Ambrose and Mathias all was safe; applauded his own sagacity; and thanked me a thousand times for having devoted myself so entirely to his service.

Seb. But by what means did you contrive to send the note to me of this appointment?

Flora. I sent it by old Cecily. But this is no time for explanation; my mistress is waiting for me in my chamber, dressing herself in the suit of clothes you sent me of the Marquis's; which was a lucky thought, as it will certainly much less incommode her flight than a female dress; and I must go tell her at what signal to steal out of the window to the Marquis, for I forgot it in my hurry. (Nicholas appears upon the wall.)

Nic. Who, in the name of wonder, have we here? Softly, softly! (He descends, and conceals himself behind the hedge.)

expect him here within a quarter of an hour; and that he must come close by the other side of the garden-wall; and as soon as he is there, he must clap with his hands so. I shall be waiting for the signal; and the first favourable moment after, I will begin playing on my guitar the favourite air, Ma chère Amié," and he must take that signal, for the exact time to leap into the garden.

Nic. (Behind the hedge.) Good.

Flora. Good, did you say? I say excellent.
Seb. I did not speak.

Flora. But be sure to caution your master, that he does not come into the garden before he hears that very song I have mentioned, and then to come directly; but bid him take great care not to mistake one air for another; for at that very air, my young lady will steal out of the pavilion to meet him. Seb. I will remember all with the utmost exactness. (He goes, and Nicholas runs on the other side of the hedge to avoid him.) Flora. (Calling after Sebastian.) In a quarter of an hour the Marquis must be here, remember; neither sooner nor later.

Seb. I remember. [done with Nicholas? Flora. Oh, Sebastian, I forgot; what have you Seb. O, you make me die with laughing; he is a prisoner, poor devil!

Flora. But did they thrash him well, when they took him out of the box? [I assure you. Seb. Oh, yes, they gave him a pretty drubbing, Flora. I am vastly glad to hear it; I thank them a thousand times: I wish I had been there; it was what he richly deserved. But away, Sebastian; mind all I have said, and our fortune is made. [Exit into the pavilion by the window, but so hid by Sebastian's following her close, that Nicholas thinks she goes in by the door. Seb. (Climbing the wall.) I am not very fond of scaling this wall; if I should break my neck, our project is at an end; and that would be shipwreck in the sight of port. [Exit over the wall. Nic. (Coming forward.) And now, my dear gentleman and lady, you shall pay for all your stratagems; and my poor old master! how glad he will be to see me returned. (Goes to the General's pavilion.) He is not in bed, I see. General, General! (Raps at the door.) ̧ Enter AMBROSE in his nightcap, from the pavilion. Nic. Ambrose, a'n't you glad to see me? Amb. Get about your business; how dare you shew your face here?

Nic. More ill usage still; sure, never innocence was so ill treated. Mr. Ambrose, (in the most begging tone,) I pray, I supplicate of you, to inform the General I have a secret of the utmost importance to communicate to him.

Amb. I'll let him know; but you may dread your reception. [Exit into the pavilion. Nic. Oh, the blessing of being faithful! I have this day been beaten by all parties; friends and enemies have kicked me, and the bitterest foes agree in using me like a dog.

Enter GENERAL in his robe-de-chambre, AMBROSE with him, from the pavilion.

Gen. How dare you, sir, enter my doors? Do you think I am to be imposed upon by an hypocritical story, invented merely to replace yourself in my family?

Nic. Dear sir, I humbly on my knees beg your pardon for the mistake you are in. Gen. Villain!

Nic. Call me what you will, so you won't speak loud. (Retiring from Flora's pavilion.) Beat me, if you have the heart; but when your passion is over, permit me to do you a signal piece of service. Gen. What service?

Nic. Within a quarter of an hour your niece will be carried out of your house; overheard the whole plot, and Flora is at the head of it.

Gen. Do you dare to accuse that faithful creature? Nic. Faithful creature! why, sir, it was she that had me carried to the Marquis's hotel in a box. Gen. What do you mean? in a box?

Nic. Yes, sir, in a box; she procured the Marquis's escape, and made me take his place. I cried, but she laughed, and made Mathias take me away, for he could not hear my complaints; and when he got me on his shoulder, he did so shake and jumble me, I was impatient to be let out; but that was ten times worse, for he gave me to the care of four footmen belonging to the Marquis; and as soon as they opened the chest, and saw it was me, souse I went into a tub of cold water; and then, to dry me, they tossed me in a blanket. The Marquis took me out of their hands; but he shut me up in a dark room, from whence ĺ escaped through a hole in the wall, and got into the garden; the gardener took me for a thief, and sent a shower of potatoes and cucumbers at my head; I saved myself by climbing over the wall, and tumbled into a ditch on the other side.

Gen. Very well; go on. What then? Nic. Is not that enough? if it is not, I have more to come yet. [extremely. Gen. So much the better; I like to hear it Nic. After all my distress, I thought myself happy when I reached your door, but I found it shut against me; and had not a ladder been placed by the Marquis's people against that wallGen. A ladder?

Nic. Or how could I have been here? I ascended it softly, descended it softly, and overheard Flora plotting with the Marquis's valet-he that personated Don Carlos.

Gen. It can't be; I locked Flora in the pavilion. Nic. These eyes saw her; and this was the plan she laid with the Marquis's servant: within a quarter of an hour the Marquis is to walk on the other side that wall, and to give the signal he is there, by clapping his hands. Flora is to reply, by playing upon her guitar," Ma chère Amie." On hearing this air (no other) the Marquis leaps into the garden; your niece comes from the pavilion, runs to him, they scale the wall, bid farewell to you; and you run, with old Ambrose, limping after them in vain.

Flora deceive

Gen. This demands attention. me? she must then have false keys, both of my niece's apartment and her own.

Nic. If you doubt what I have said, go to bed, and consider of it again in the morning.

Gen. No; I cannot but believe it. Ambrose !
Amb. Sir.

Gen. Fetch the blunderbuss.
Amb. Yes, sir.

[Exit into the pavilion, and returns with it. Gen. Do you two hide yourselves behind these elms; and the moment the Marquis descends into the garden, seize him, and lead him home to his hotel.

Amb. We won't let him escape, you may depend Nic. No; you may depend upon it. [upon it. Gen. But behave with proper respect; no violence; that is according to our agreement. Amb. Then for what did you send me for the blunderbuss? [go away quietly. Gen. To keep him in apprehension, and make him Nic. He would go much more quietly, sir, if you would permit Ambrose to shoot at him first.

Gen. I tell you no; my honour is engaged. I'll place myself at the door of the pavilion, in order to seize my niece as she attempts to come out to him. (To Nicholas and Ambrose.) Hush! and hide yourselves instantly; do not stir or breathe. (They hide behind the elms.) Flora, come hither; I have a word or two to say to you.

Flora. (Within.) Open the door, sir, and I'll come immediately.

Gen. (Unlocks the door.) And I warrant, when

you are come, I'll make you give the signal in spite of yourself. I am resolved.

Enter FLORA from the pavilion, left hand, with a guitar in her hand.

Flora. The General! how unfortunate! and my mistress has just got on her disguise. (Aside.) What did you please to want with me, sir?

Gen. Flora, I want to have a little conversation with you.

Flora. Dear sir, if you have not anything very particular to say, will you permit me to go to bed? for I die with sleep. (Yawning.)

Gen. Why, you offered of your own accord, to sit up till midnight.

Flora. Very true; but the air is so sharp. Bless me, I die with cold. (Shaking.)

Gen. And yet you walked in the garden, after bidding me good night?

Flora. He saw me; all is lost. (Aside.) Dear, what a thought! [too. Gen. I saw you; and you talked with somebody, Flora. He overheard us. (Aside.) Dear sir, how was that possible, when you had me under lock and key?

Gen. You know you have false keys; I saw you lock and unlock the door.

Flora. He knows nothing, I find. (Aside.)
Gen. Give me those keys.

Flora. Indeed, sir, indeed I have not any.
Gen. Well, perhaps, I am deceived.
Flora. Certainly you are.

Gen. Come, play me a tune on your guitar.
Flora. It is out of tune, sir. (Alarmed.)
Gen. Psha! psha! I command you to do it; one
little air, and I'll go to bed.

Flora. What air, pray, sir?
Gen. The first you think of.

Flora. Upon my word, the thing is so out of tune. (She plays a short tune rehuctantly ; just as it is finished, the Marquis on the other side of the wall, gives the signal by clapping his hands.)

Gen. Vastly well; and there is somebody in the streets applauding you.

Flora. (Aside. It is the signal.

Gen. This air was so finely executed, you must play me another: "Ma chère Amié," for instance. Flora. (Starting.) No; pray, sir, excuse me; indeed, I can't. I am afraid he knows all. (Aside.) Gen. What! refuse to play, when you have met with such applause? Play, play "Ma chère Amié." Flora. O, sir, you have, I fear, discovered all; you know the whole scheme, I am sure you do, and on my knees—(Kneeling.)

Gen. No forgiveness; don't hope for it; there kneel, and play the air I mentioned. Stir not for your life, nor utter a word; obey. (Flora, with the most melancholy countenance, and half crying, sings and plays, "Ma chère Amié." During the air, the Marquis appears upon the wall, and Julia steps one leg out of the window from which Flora has passed and repassed, dressed in a habit like the Marquis.) [he is.

Nic. (Seeing the Marquis on the wall.) There Amb. Let me go first; consider, I am lame. (They each strive to go first; Nicholas succeeds, and creeps softly along the hedge. At the end of the air, the Marquis jumps into the garden, and falls upon his hands behind the hedge.)

Mar. 'Sdeath! I am watched. (Julia, at the same time, comes out of the window, and places herself by the wall; Nicholas immediately secures her, and brings her down the stage; she, overcome with grief, covers her face with her cloak.)

Nic. Here he is, sir! we have taken him. Now, Marquis, what would you say if I was to shut you up in a dark room?

Amb. (Presenting his gun.) No resistance, or you are a dead man.

Nic. Here he is, sir! we have taken him.

Flora. It is Nicholas has discovered all. (Aside ; throws herself on one of the garden chairs.)

Gen. (To Julia.) Your humble servant, my good lord! Why do you hide your face? do you think we don't know you? Go, go, my lads, conduct his lordship safe to his hotel, and stand sentinel at his door till the clock strikes twelve, and then return back in triumph; make haste home with him, before the clock strikes. Away, away ! [Exit Julia, led by Nicholas and Ambrose. And so end my cares. (With great joy.) Poor fellow! suffered himself to be taken away, too, without speaking a word; caught in his own snare: sure, a man never looks so ridiculous, as when he is caught in his own snare. (To Flora.) And you, you perfidious! what have you to say? you, who received my purse?

Flora. But I told you I did not deserve it.

Gen. Oh, yes; I don't know whether you did not deserve it; for you have taken a great deal of trouble to-day, and to very little purpose; ha, ha, ha! I believe the Marquis will have enough to do to pay his wager, without paying you anything, and so you see I have done it for him; and now I'll step and wish my niece joy of the success of her project. [Exit.

Flora. Oh! how I grudge your joy; but, while he goes up the stairs, I'll see if my lady cannot come out of the window. (She goes to the window of the pavilion.) Madam, madam Julia! Mar. (From the hedge.) Flora, Flora! Flora. Is it you, madam ?

Mar. (Coming forward.) No; 'tis I. Flora. You! why, who have they taken away, Mar. Your mistress. [then? Flora. (Expressing the most extreme joy.) My mistress? She? Madam Julia? Oh, do; do not tell me so; I shall die with joy. (Running to the door of the pavilion.) Sir, sir! General! Sir!

Mar. Peace, be quiet; let me escape first.

Flora. That's right; away, away, before the clock strikes. [Exit Marquis.] Thank heaven! he has only across the street to go. The General laughed at me; now, how I long to laugh at him. Sir, come down instantly, and take your share of the joke.

Enter GENERAL, from the pavilion, left hand, with the bolster in his hand, dressed with a cap on. Gen. I found this in bed, instead of my niece; where, where can she be?

Flora. She has not even been in bed.
Gen. Where is she, then?
Flora. Gone to the Marquis.
Gen. My niece?

Flora. Gone to his hotel; conducted by your own servants, and by your own command. Enter NICHOLAS, running. Nic. We have led him home; the clock has struck twelve. [they took, surely? Gen. And I'll strike one. It was not my niece Enter the MARQUIS, JULIA, AMBROSE, SEBASTIAN, and several domestics of the Marquis's, with lights. [your niece.

Julia. Pardon me, my dear uncle, but it was Mar. (To the General.) Uncle, will you permit me now to call you by that name? "A man never looks so ridiculous, as when he is caught in his

own snare."

ACT I. SCENE I.-A Room in Lovemore's house.
WILLIAM at cards with a brother Servant.
Will. A plague on it! I've ruined my game. Is
Serv. Equal.
[forty-seven good?
Will. A plague go with it: tearse to a queen-
Serv. Equal.

Will. I've ruined my game, and be hanged to me.
I don't believe there's a footman in England plays
with worse luck than myself. Four aces is four-
Serv. That's hard:-equal, by Jupiter! [teen!
Will. Four aces is fourteen-fifteen. (Plays.)
Serv. There's your equality.
Will. Very well: (plays) sixteen-seventeen-
Enter MUSLIN.

Mus. There's a couple of you, indeed! You're so fond of the vices of your betters, that you're scarce out of your beds when you must pretend to imitate them and their ways, forsooth.

Will. Pr'y thee, be quiet, woman, do. EighteenMus. Set you up, indeed, Mr. Coxcomb! Will. Nineteen! Clubs-(Plays.) Mus. Have done with your foolery, will ye? and send my lady word

Will. Hold your tougue, Mrs. Muslin; you'll put us out. What shall I play? I'll tell you, woman, my master and I desire to have nothing to say to you or your lady. Twenty-diamonds! (Plays.) Mus. But I tell you, Mr. Saucebox, that my lady desires to know when your master came home last night, and how he is this morning?

Will. Pr'ythee be quiet: I and my master are resolved to be teased no more by you. And so, Mrs. Go-between, you may return as you came. What the devil shall I play? We'll have nothing to do with you I tell you,

Mus. You'll have nothing to do with us! But you shall have to do with us, or I'll know the reason why. (Snatches the cards out of his hands.) Will. Death and fury! this meddling woman has destroyed my whole game.

Mus. Now, sir, will you be so obliging as to send an answer to her questions-How and when your rake-helly master came home last night?

WIDOW BELLMOUR MRS. LOVEMORE MUSLIN

MIGNIONET FURNISH

SERVANTS

Will. I'll tell you what, Mrs. Muslin, you and my master will be the death of me at last; that's what you will. In the name of charity, what do you both take me for? Whatever appearances may be, I am but of mortal mould: nothing supernatural about

Mus. Upon my word, Mr. Powderpuff! [me. Will. I have not, indeed: and so, do you see, flesh and blood can't hold it always. I can't be for ever a slave to your whims and second-hand airs. Mus. Second-hand airs!

Will. Yes, second-hand airs. You take them at your ladies' toilets with their cast gowns, and so you descend to us with them. And, then, on the other hand, there's my master! Because he chooses to live upon the principal of his health, and so run out his whole stock as fast as he can, he must have the pleasure of my company with him in his devil's dance to the other world. Never at home till three, four, five, six o'clock in the morning.

Mus. Ay, a vile ungrateful man! to have so little regard for a wife that doats upon him. And your love for me, is all of a-piece. I've no patience with you both. A couple of false, perfidious, abandoned, profligate

Will. Hey, hey! where's your tongue running? My master is, as the world goes, a good sort of a civil kind of a husband; and I-heaven help me!a poor simpleton of an amorous, constant puppy, that bears with all the follies of his little tyrant here. Come and kiss me, you jade; come and kiss me,

Mus. Paws off, Cæsar. Don't think to make me your dupe. I know when you go with him to this new lady, this Bath acquaintance; and I know you're as false as my master, and give all my dues to your Mrs. Mignionet there.

Will. Hush! not a word of that. I'm ruined, pressed, and sent on board a tender directly, if you blab that I trusted you with that secret. But to charge me with falsehood, injustice, and ingratitude! My master, to be sure, does drink an agreeable dish of tea with the Widow; has been there every night this month past. How long it will last, heaven knows! but thither he goes, and I attend him. I

Love. There again, now! tell her-tell her what you will; I shall be glad to see her-I'll wait on her-anything-what you will.

Mus. I shall let my lady know, sir. [Exit. Love. My dear Sir Brilliant, you see I am an example before your eyes. Put the Widow Bellmour entirely out of your head, and let my Lord EtheridgeSir Bril. Positively no! My pride is piqued; and, if I can, my Lord Etheridge shall find me a more formidable rival than he is aware of. Enter WILLIAM.

Will. Sir Bashful Constant is in his chariot at the upper end of the street, and has sent his servant to know if your honour is at home.

ask my master, "Sir," says I, "what time would you please to want me?" He gives me his answer, and then I strut by Mrs. Mignionet, without so much as giving her one glance: she stands watering at the mouth, and " A pretty fellow, that," says she. "Ay, ay, gaze on," says I, "gaze on; I see what you would be at: you'd be glad to have me; you'd be glad to have me. But sour grapes, my dear! I'll go home and cherish my own lovely wanton." And so I do, you know I do. Then, after toying with thee, I hasten back to my master; later, indeed, than he desired, but always too soon for him. He's loath to part: he lingers and dangles, and I stand cooling my heels. O, to the devil I pitch such a life! [man, then? Mus. Why don't you strive to reclaim the vile Will. Softly, not so fast! I have my talent, to be sure. Yes, yes, I have my talent; some influence over my master's mind: but can you suppose that I have power to turn the drift of his inclinations, and lead him as I please-and to whom? to his wife? Psha! ridiculous, foolish, and absurd! Mus. Mighty well, sir! Can you proceed? Will. I tell you, a wife is out of date now-a-days: time was-but that's all over; a wife's a drug now; mere tar-water, with every virtue under heaven, but nobody takes it. [face. Mus. Well, I swear, I could smack your impudent Will. Come and kiss me, I say.

Mus. A fiddlestick for your kisses! while you encourage your master in open rebellion against the best of wives.

Will. I tell you, it's her own fault; why don't she strive to please him, as you do me? Come, throw your arms about my neck.

Mus. Ay, as I used to do, Mr. Brazen! (Bell rings.) Hush! my Lady's bell rings. How long has he been up? When did he come home?

Will. At five this morning; rubbed his forehead, d-d himself for a blockhead, went to bed in a peevish humour, and is now in tiptop spirits with Sir Brilliant Fashion, in the next room. (Bell rings.) Mus. O lud! that bell rings again :-there, there; let me be gone. [She kisses him and exit. Will. There goes high and low life contrasted in one person: 'tis well I bave not told her the whole of my master's secrets: she'll blab that he visits this Widow from Bath. But if they inquire, they'll be told he does not. The plot lies deeper than they are aware of, and so they will only get into a puzzle. Hush! Yonder comes my master and Sir Brilliant. Let me get out of the way. Here, Tom, help me to take away the things. [Exeunt. Enter LOVEMORE and SIR BRILLIANT FASHION. Love. Ha, ha! My dear Sir Brilliant, I must both pity and laugh at you; I'll swear thou art metamorphosed into the most whimsical being

Sir Bril. Nay, pr'ythee, Lovemore, truce with your raillery: it is for sober advice I apply to you. Love. Sober advice! Ha, ha! Thou art very far gone, indeed. Sober advice! There is no such thing as talking seriously and soberly to the tribe of lovers. That eternal absence of mind that possesses ye all. There is no society with you. I was d-ble company myself when I was one of the pining herd; but a dose of matrimony has brought me back again to myself; has cooled me pretty handsomely, I assure you;-ay, and here comes repetatur haustus.

Enter MUSLIN.

Mus. My lady sends her compliments, and desires to know how you are this morning? Love. O lord! my head aches wofully; it's the devil to be teased in this manner. What did you say, child?

Mus. My lady sent to know how you do, sir. Love. O, right-your lady:-give her my compliments, and I am very well: tell her

Mus. She begs you won't think of going out without seeing her.

Love. By all means: I shall be glad to see Sir Bashful. Exit Will.] Now here comes another mortifying instance to deter you from all thoughts of marriage.

Sir Bril. Psha! hang him; he is no instance for me: a younger brother, who has lived in middling life, comes to an estate and a title on the death of a consumptive baronet, marries a woman of quality, and carries the primitive ideas of his narrow education into high life. Hang him! he is no example for me. [time.

Love. But he is a good deal improved since that Sir Bril. Pho! a mere Hottentot; unacquainted with life, blushes every moment, and looks suspicious, as if he imagined you have some design upon him.

Love. Why, I fancy, I can explain that. I have found out a part of his character lately. You must know, there is nothing he dreads so much as being an object of ridicule and so, let the customs and fashions of the world be ever so absurd, he complies, lest he should be laughed at for being particular.

Sir Bril. And so, through the fear of being ridiculous, he becomes substantially so every moment.

Love. Just so. And, then, to see him shrink back, as it were, from your observation, casting a jealous and fearful eye all around him. (Mimics him.) Sir Bril. Ha, ha! That's his way :-but there is something worse in him; his behaviour to his lady. Ever quarrelling and insulting her with nonsense about the dignity of a husband, and his superior reason.

Love. Why, there again, now; his fear of being ridiculous may be at the bottom of that. I don't think he hates my Lady Constant. She is a fine woman, and knows the world. There is something mysterious in that part of his conduct.

Sir Bril. Mysterious! not to you; he is ever consulting you: you are in all his secrets.

Love. Yes, but I never can find any of them out. And yet there is something working within, that he would fain tell me; and yet he is shy, and he hints, and he hesitates, and then he returns again into himself, and ends just where he began. Hark! I hear his chariot at the door.

Sir Bril. Why do you let him come after you? He is a sad, troublesome fellow, Lovemore.

Love. Nay, you are too severe. Come, he has fits of good-nature.

Sir Bril. His wife has fits of good-nature, you mean. How goes on your design there?

Love. Pho, pho! I have no design; but I take it, you are a formidable man in that quarter.

Sir Bril. Who, I? Psha! no such thing. Love. Never deny it to me: I know you have made advances.

Sir Bril. Why, faith, I pity my Lady Constant; and cannot bear to see her treated as she is.

Love. Well, that's generous-have a care, I hear him. Sir Brilliant, I admire your amorous charity of all things: ha, ha! Hush! here he comes. Enter SIR BASHFUL.

Sir Bash. Mr. Lovemore, a good morning to you ; Sir Brilliant, your servant, sir.

Sir Bril. Sir Bashful, I am heartily glad to see you: I hope you left my lady well. Sir Bash. I can't say, sir;

I am not her physician.