Tony. Never fear me.

Here she comes.

Vanish.

She's got from the pond, and draggled up to the waist

like a mermaid.

Enter Mrs. HARDCASTLE.

Mrs. Hard. Oh, Tony, I'm killed. Shook. Battered to death. I shall never survive it. That last jolt that laid us against the quickset hedge has done my business.

Tony. Alack, mamma, it was all your own fault. You would be for running away by night without knowing one inch of the way.

Mrs. Hard. I wish we were at home again. I never met so many accidents in so short a journey. Drenched in the mud, overturned in a ditch, stuck fast in a slough, jolted to a jelly, and at last to lose our way. Whereabouts do you think we are, Tony?

Tony. By my guess, we should come upon Crackskull common, about forty miles from home.

Mrs. Hard. O lud! O lud! The most notorious spot in all the country. We only want a robbery to make a complete night on't.

Tony. Don't be afraid, mamma, don't be afraid. Two of the five that kept here are hanged, and the other three may not find us. Don't be afraid. Is that a man that's galloping behind us? No; it's only a tree. afraid.

Mrs. Hard. The fright will certainly kill me.

Don't be

Tony. Do you see any thing like a black hat moving behind the thicket?

Mrs. Hard. O death!

Tony. No, its only a cow.

don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid, mamma;

Mrs. Hard. As I'm alive, Tony, I see a man coming

towards us. Ah! I'm sure on't. If he perceives us we are undone.

Ah, its a

Tony. [Aside.] Father-in-law, by all that's unlucky, come to take one of his night walks. [To her.] highwayman with pistols as long as my arm. ill-looking fellow.

A damned

Mrs. Hard. Good Heaven defend us! He approaches. Tony. Do you hide yourself in that thicket, and leave me to manage him. If there be any danger, I'll cough, and cry hem. When I cough, be sure to keep close. [Mrs. Hardcastle hides behind a tree in the back scene. Enter HARDCASTLE.

Hard. I'm mistaken, or I heard voices of people in want of help. Oh, Tony, is that you? I did not expect you so soon back. Are your mother and her charge in safety?

Tony. Very safe, sir, at my aunt Pedigree's.

Hem.

Mrs. Hard. [from behind.] Ah, death! I find there's danger.

Hard. Forty miles in three hours; sure's that too much, my youngster.

Tony. Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say. Hem.

Mrs. Hard. [from behind.] Sure he'll do the dear boy no harm.

Hard. But I heard a voice here; I should be glad to know from whence it came.

Tony. It was I, sir, talking to myself, sir. I was saytng that forty miles in four hours was very good going. Hem. As to be sure it was. Hem. I have got a sort of cold by being out in the air.

Hem.

We'll go in, if you please.

Hard. But if you talked to yourself, you did not an

swer yourself. I'm certain I heard two voices, and am resolved [raising his voice] to find the other out.

Mrs. Hard. [From behind.] Oh! he's coming to find me out. Oh!

Tony. What need you go, sir, if I tell you. Hem. I'll lay down my life for the truth-hem-I'll tell you all, sir[Detaining him.

Hard. I tell you, I will not be detained. I insist on seeing. It's in vain to expect I'll believe you.

Mrs. Hard. [Running forward from behind.] O lud! he'll murder my poor boy, my darling. Here, good gentleman, whet your rage upon me. Take my money, my life, but spare that young gentleman, spare my child, if 'you have any mercy.

Hard. My wife! as I'm a Christian. From whence can she come; or what does she mean?

Mrs. Hard. [kneeling.] Take compassion on us, good Mr. Highwayman. Take our money, our watches, all we have, but spare our lives: We will never bring you tą justice, indeed we won't, good Mr. Highwayman.

Hard. I believe the woman's out of her senses. What, Dorothy, don't you know me?

Mrs. Hard. Mr. Hardcastle, as I'm alive! My fears blinded me. But who, my dear, could have expected to meet you here, in this frightful place, so far from home? What has brought you to follow us?

Hard. Sure, Dorothy, you have not lost your wits? So far from home, when you are within forty yards of your own door! [To him.] This is one of your old tricks, you graceless rogue you. [To her.] Don't you know the gate, and the mulberry-tree; and don't you remember the horse-pond, my dear?

Mrs. Hard. Yes, I shall remember the horse-pond as

long as I live; I have caught my death in it. [To Tony.] And it is to you, you graceless varlet, I owe all this! I'll teach you to abuse your mother, I will.

Tony. Ecod, mother, all the parish say you have spoiled me; and so you may take the fruits on't.

Mrs. Hard. I'll spoil you, I will.

[Follows him off the stage. Exit. Hard. There's morality, however, in his reply. [Exit. Enter HASTINGS and Miss NEVILLE.

Hast. My dear Constance, why will you deliberate thus? If we delay a moment, all is lost for ever. Pluck up a little resolution, and we shall soon be out of the reach of

her malignity.

Miss Nev. I find it impossible. My spirits are so sunk with the agitations I have suffered, that I am unable to face any new danger. Two or three years' patience will at last crown us with happiness.

Hast. Such a tedious delay is worse than inconstancy. Let us fly, my charmer. Let us date our happiness from this very moment. Perish fortune! Love and content

will increase what we possess beyond a monarch's reve

nue.

Let me prevail!

Miss Nev. No, Mr. Hastings; no. Prudence once more comes to my relief, and I will obey its dictates. In the moment of passion fortune may be despised, but it ever produces a lasting repentance. I'm resolved to apply to Mr. Hardcastle's compassion and justice for redress. Hast. But though he had the will, he has not the power to relieve

you.

Miss Nev. But he has influence, and upon that I am resolved to rely.

Hast. I have no hopes. But since you persist, I must reluctantly obey you. [Exeunt.

Scene changes.

Enter Sir CHARLES and Miss HARDCASTLE.

If what you say

If what he says be

Sir Char. What a situation am I in! appears, I shall then find a guilty son. true, I shall then lose one, that, of all others, I, most wished for a daughter.

Miss Hard. I am proud of your approbation; and to show I merit it, if you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit declaration. But he comes.

Sir Char. I'll go to your father, and keep him to the appointment. [Exit Sir Charles.

Enter MARLOW.

Har. Though prepared for setting out, I come once more to take leave, nor did I, till this moment, know the pain I feel in the separation,

Miss Hard [In her own natural manner. I believe these sufferings cannot be very great, sir, which you can so easily remove. A day or two longer, perhaps, might lessen your uneasiness, by showing the little value of what you now think proper to regret.

Har. [Aside.] This girl every moment improves upon me. [To her.] It must not be, madam. I have already trifled too long with my heart. My very pride begins to submit to my passion. The disparity of education and fortune, the anger of a parent, and the contempt of my equals, begin to lose their weight; and nothing can restore me to myself, but this painful effort of resolution.

Miss Hard. Then go, sir; I'll urge nothing more to detain you. Though my family be as good as hers you came down to visit, and my education, I hope, not inferior, what are these advantages without equal affluence? I must remain contented with the slight approbation of