vants is unsufferable. Their manner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure

you.

MARLOW.

I protest, my very good Sir, that is no fault of mine. If they don't drink as they ought they are to blame. I ordered them not to spare the cellar. I did, I assure you. (To the side scene.) Here let one of my servants come up. (To him.) My positive directions were, that as I did not drink myself, they should make up for my deficiencies below.

HARDCASTLE.

Then they had your orders for what they do! I'm satisfied!

MARLOW.

They had, I assure you. You shall hear from one of themselves.

Enter SERVANT, drunk.

MARLOW.

You, Jeremy! Come forward sirrah! What were my orders? Were you not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit, for the good of the house?

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

(Aside) I begin to lose my patience.

JEREMY.

Please your honour, liberty and Fleet-street for ever! Though I'm but a servant, I'm as good as another man. I'll drink for no man before supper, Sir, dammy! Good liquor will sit upon a good supper, but a good supper will not sit uponhiccup-upon my conscience, Sir.

MARLOW.

You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can possibly be. I don't know what you'd have more, unless you'd have the poor devil soused in a beer-barrel.

HARDCASTLE.

Zounds! he'll drive me distracted, if I contain myself any longer. Mr. Marlow. Sir; I have submitted to your insolence for more than four hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to an end. I'm now resolved to be master here, Sir, and I desire that you and your drunken pack may leave my house directly.

MARLOW.

Leave your house!Sure you jest, my good friend? What, when I'm doing what I can to please

you.

HARD

HARDCASTLE.

I tell you, Sir, you don't please me; so I desire you'll leave my house.

MARLOW.

Sure you cannot be serious? at this time o'night and such a night. You only mean to banter me?

HARDCASTLE.

I tell you, Sir, I'm serious! and, now that my passions are rouzed, I say this house is mine, Sir; this house is mine, and I command you to leave it directly.

MARLOW.

Ha ha ha! A puddle in a storm. I shan't stir a step, I assure you. (In a serious tone.) This your house, fellow! It's my house. This is my house, Mine, while I chuse to stay. What right have you to bid me to leave this house, Sir? I never met with such impudence, curse me, never in my whole life before,

HARDCASTLE.

Nor I, confound me if ever I did. To come to my house, to call for what he likes, to turn me out of my own chair, to insult the family, to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell me, "This "house is mine, Sir." By all that's impudent it

makes

makes me laugh. Ha! ha! ha! Pray, Sir, (bantering) as you take the house, what think you of taking the rest of the furniture? There's a pair of silver candlesticks, and there's a fire-screen, and here's a pair of brazen nosed bellows, perhaps you may take a fancy to them?

MARLOW.

Bring me your bill, Sir; bring me your bill, and let's make no more words about it.

HARDCASTLE.

There are a set of prints too. What think you of the rake's progress for your own apartment?

MARLOW.

Bring me your bill, I say; and I'll leave you and your infernal house directly.

HARDCASTLE.

Then there's a mahogany table that you may see your own face in.

MARLOW.

My bill, I say.

HARDCASTLE.

I had forgot the great chair, for your own parti

cular slumbers, after a hearty meal.

MARLOW.

MARLOW.

Zounds! bring me my bill, I say, and let's hear no more on't.

HARDCASTLE.

Young man, young man, from your father's letter to me, I was taught to expect a well-bred modest man, as a visitor here, but now I find him no better than a coxcomb and a bully; but he will be down here presently, and shall hear more of it.

MARLOW.

[Exit.

How's this! Sure I have not mistaken the house. Every thing looks like an inn. The servants cry coming. The attendance is aukward; the bar-maid too to attend us.

But she's here, and will farther inform me. Whither so fast, child? A word with you.

Enter Miss HARDCASTLE.

Miss HARDCASTLE.

Let it be short then. I'm in a hurry. (Aside) I believe he begins to find out his mistake, but it's too soon quite to undeceive him.

MARLOW