in the world. I would not lose the rest of it for a guinea. Here mother, do you make it out. Of no consequence! [Giving Mrs. Hardcastle the letter. Mrs. Hard. How's this? [reads.] "Dear 'squire, I'm now waiting for Miss Neville, with a post-chaise and pair, at the bottom of the garden, but I find my horses yet unable to perform the journey. I expect you'll assist us with a pair of fresh horses, as you promised. Despatch is necessary, as the hag" (ay the hag,) "your mother, will otherwise suspect us. Yours, Hastings." Grant me patience! I shall run distracted! My rage choaks me!

Miss Nev. I hope, madam, you'll suspend your resentment for a few moments, and not impute to me any impertinence, or sinister design, that belongs to another.

Mrs. Hard.[Courtesying very low.] Fine spoken madam; you are most miraculously polite and engaging, and quite the very pink of courtesy and circumspection, madam. [Changing her tone.] And you, you great ill-fashioned oaf, with scarce sense enough to keep your mouth shut. Were you too joined against me? But I'll defeat all your plots in a moment. As for you, madam, since you have got a pair of fresh horses ready, it would be cruel to dis appoint them. So, if you please, instead of running away with your spark, prepare this very moment to run off with me. Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you secure, I'll warrant me. You too, sir, may mount your horse, and guard us upon the way. Here, Thomas, Roger, Diggory! I'll show you that I wish you better than you do yourselves.

Miss Nev. So now I'm completely ruined.

Tony Ay, that's a sure thing.

[Exit.

Miss Nev. What better could be expected from being

connected with such a stupid fool, and after all the nods and signs I made him?

Tony. By the laws, miss, it was your own cleverness, and not my stupidity, that did your business. You were so nice and so busy with your Shake-bags and Goosegreens, that I thought you could never be making believe. Enter HASTINGS.

Hast. So, sir, I find by my servant that you have shown my letter, and betrayed us. Was this well done, young

gentleman?

Tony. Here's another. Ask Miss there, who betrayed you. Ecod, it was her doing, not mine.

Enter MARLow.

Mar. So I have been finely used here among you. Rendered contemptible, driven into ill manners, despised, insulted, laughed at.

Tony. Here's another. We shall have old Bedlam broke loose presently.

Miss Nev. And there, sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe every obligation.

Mar. What can I say to him? a mere boy, an idiot, whose ignorance and age are a protection.

Hast. A poor contemptible booby, that would but disgrace correction.

Miss Nev. Yet, with cunning and malice enough to make himself merry with all our embarrassments.

Hast. An insensible cub.

Mar. Replete with tricks and mischief.

Tony. Baw! dam'me, but I'll fight you both, one after the other-with baskets.

But your

Mar. As for him, he's below resentment. conduct, Mr. Hastings, requires an explanation. ow of my mistakes, yet would not undeceive me.

You

Hast. Tortured as I am with my own disappointments, is this a time for explanations? It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.

Mar. But, sir

Miss Nev. Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake, till it was too late to undeceive you,

Enter SERVANT.

Ser. My mistress desires you'll get ready immediately, madam. The horses are putting to. Your hat and things are in the next room. We are to go thirty miles before morning. Exit Servant.

Miss Nev. Well, well; I'll come presently.

Mar. [To Hastings.] Was it well done, sir, to assist in rendering me ridiculous? to hang me out for the scorn of all my acquaintance? Depend upon it, sir, I shall expect an explanation.

Hast. Was it well done, sir, since you are upon that subject, to deliver what I entrusted to yourself, to the care of another, sir?

Miss Nev. Mr. Hastings, Mr. Marlow, why will you increase my distress by this groundless dispute? I implore, I entreat you-

Enter SERVANT.

Ser. Your cloak, madam. My mistress is impatient.

[Exit Servant. Miss Nev. I come. Pray be pacified. If I leave you thus I shall die with apprehension.

Enter SERVANT.

Ser. Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam. The horses are waiting.

Miss Nev. O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a scene of constraint and ill-nature lies before me, I'm sure it would convert your resentment into pity.

Mar. I'm so distracted with a variety of passions, that I don't know what I do. Forgive me, madam; George, forgive me. You know my hasty temper, and should not exasperate it.

Hast. The torture of my situation is my only excuse.

Miss Nev. Well, my dear Hastings, if you have that esteem for me that I think, that I am sure you have, your constancy for three years will but increase the happiness of our future connexion. If

Mrs. Hard. [Within.]Miss Neville! Constance, why Constance, I say!

Miss Nev. I'm coming. Well, constancy, remember constancy is the word.

[Exit. Hast. My heart! how can I support this! To be so near happiness, and such happiness!

Mar. [To Tony.] You see now, young gentleman, the effects of your folly. What might be amusement to you, is here disappointment, and even distress.

Tony. [From a reverie.] Ecod! I have hit it: it's here! Your hands. Yours, and yours, my poor Sulky. My boots there, ho! Meet me two hours hence, at the bottom of the garden; and if you don't find Tony Lumpkin a more good-natured fellow than you thought for, I'll give you leave to take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain. Come along. My boots, ho! [Exeunt.

ACT V.

Enter HASTINGS and SERVANT.

Hast. You saw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off, you say.

Ser. Yes, your honour. They went off in a post-coach,

and the young 'squire went on horseback. They're thirty miles off by this time.

Hast. Then all my hopes are over.

Ser. Yes, sir. Old Sir Charles is arrived. He and the old gentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow's mistake, this half hour. They are coming this

way.

Hast. Then I must not be seen.

So now to my fruit

less appointment at the bottom of the garden. This is about the time.

Enter Sir CHARLES and HARDCASTLE.

[Exit.

Hard. Ha! ha! ha! The peremptory tone in which he sent forth his sublime commands.

Sir Char. And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all your advances.

Hard. And yet he might have seen something in me above a common inn-keeper, too.

Sir Char. Yes, Dick; but he mistook you for an uncommon inn-keeper, ha! ha! ha!

Hard. Well, I'm in too good spirits to think of any thing but joy. Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our personal friendships hereditary; and though my daughter's fortune is but small-

Sir Char. Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to me? My son is possessed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a good and virtuous girl to share his happiness, and increase it. If they like each other, as you say they do

Hard. If, man! I tell you they do like each other. My daughter as good as told me so.

Sir Char. But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know.