Tony, That's as thereafter may be.

Mifs Nev. My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige me.

Mrs. Hard. A parcel of old-fashioned rofe and tablecut things. They would make you look like the court of king Solomon at a puppet-shew. Befides, I believe I can't readily come at them. They may be miffing for aught I know to the contrary.

Tony. (Apart to Mrs. Hardcastle) Then why don't you tell her fo at once, as fhe's fo longing for them. Tell her they're loft. It's the only way to quiet her. Say they're loft, and call me to bear witness.

Mrs. Hard. (Apart to Tony) You know, my dear, I'm only keeping them for you. So if I fay they're gone, you'll bear me witnefs, will you? He! he! he!

Tony. Never fear me. Ecod! I'll fay I saw them taken out with my own eyes.

Mifs Nev. I defire them but for a day, madam. Juft to be permitted to thew them as relics, and then they may be lock'd up again.

Mrs. Hard. To be plain with you, my dear Conftance; if I could find them, you should have them. They're miffing, I affure you. Loft, for aught I know; but we muft have patience wherever they are.

Mifs Nev. I'll not believe it; this is but a fhallow pretence to deny me. I know they're too valuable to be fo flightly kept, and as you are to anfwer for the lofs.

Mrs. Hard. Don't be alarm'd, Conftance. If they be lost, I must restore an equivalent. But my fon knows they are mifling, and not to be found.

Tony. That I can bear witness to. They are miffing, and not to be found, I'll take my oath on't.

Mrs. Hard. You must learn refignation, my dear; for tho' we lose our fortune, yet we should not lose our patience. See me, how calm I am.

Mifs Neq. Ay, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of others.

Mrs. Hard. Now, I wonder a girl of your good fenfe fhould waste a thought upon fuch trumpery. We thall foon find them; and, in the mean time, you fhall make use of my garnets till your jewels be found.

Mifs Nev. I deteft garnets.

Mrs. Hard. The most becoming things in the world to fet off a clear complexion. You have often seen how well they look upon nie. You fhall have them. [Exit.

Mifs Nev. I dislike them of all things. You fhan't ftir.- Was ever any thing fo provoking to mislay my own jewels, and force me to wear her trumpery. Tony. Don't be a fool.

take what you can get.

If the gives you the garnets,
The jewels are your own al-

ready. I have ftolen them out of her bureau, and she

does not know it.

more of the matter.

Fly to your spark, he'll tell you

Leave me to manage her.

Mifs Nev. My dear coufin.

Tony Vanish. She's here, and has miffed them already. Zounds! how the fidgets and fpits about like a catharine wheel.

Enter MRS. HARDCAST.E.

Mrs. Hard. Confufion! thieves! robbers! we are cheated, plundered, broke open, undone.

Tony. What's the matter, what's the matter, mamma ? I hope nothing has happpened to any of the good family!

M

Mrs. Hard. We are robbed. My bureau has been broke open, the jewels taken out, and I'm undone.

Tony. Oh! is that all? Ha! haha! By the laws I never faw it better acted in my life. Ecod, I thought you was ruin'd in earnest, ha, ha, ha.

Mrs. Hard. Why, boy, I am ruin'd in earnest. My bureau has been broke open, and all taken away.

Tony. Stick to that; ha, ha, ha, stick to that. I'll bear witness, you know ; call me to bear witness.

Mrs. Hard. I tell you, Tony, by all that's precious, the jewels are gone, and I shall be ruin'd for ever.

Tony. Sure I know they're gone, and I am to say so. Mrs. Hard. My dearest Tony, but hear me. They're gone, I fay.

Tony. By the laws, mamma, you make me for to laugh, ha! ha! I know who took them well enough, ha ha ha!

Mrs. Hard. Was there ever fuch a blockhead, that can't tell the difference between jest and earnest. I tell you I'm not in jeft, booby.

Tony. That's right, that's right: you must be in a bitter paffion, and then nobody will suspect either of us. I'll bear witness that they are gone.

Mrs. Hard. Was there ever fuch a cross-grain'd brute, that won't hear me ! Can you bear witness that you're no better than a fool? Was ever poor woman so befet with fools on one hand, and thieves on the other?

Tony, I can bear witness to that.

Mrs. Hard. Bear witness again, you blockhead you, and I'll turn you out of the room directly. My poor niece, what will become of her! Do you laugh, you unfeeling brute, as if you enjoyed my distress?

Tony. I can bear witness to that.

Mrs. Hard. Do you infult me, monster? Pll teach you

to vex your mother, I will.

Tony. I can bear witness to that.

[He runs off, fhe follows him.

Enter Miss HARDCASTLE and MAID.

Mifs Hard. What an unaccountable creature is that brother of mine, to send them to the house as an inn, ha! ha! I don't wonder at his impudence.

Maid. But what is more, madam, the young gentleman, as you paffed by in your prefent drefs, afk'd me if you were the bar-maid? He mistook you for the barmaid, madamı,

Mifs Hard. Did he? Then, as I live, I'm refolved to keep up the delufion. Tell me, Pimple, how do you like my prefent drefs? Don't you think I look fomething like Cherry in the Beaux Stratagem?

Maid. It's the dress, madam, that every lady wears in the country, but when the vifits, or receives company. Mifs Hard. And are you sure he does not remember my face or perfon?

Maid. Certain of it.

Mifs Hard. I vow, I thought fo; for though we spoke for some time together, yet his fears were fuch, that he never once looked up during the interview. Indeed, if he had, my bonnet would have kept him from feeing me. Maid. But what do you hope from keeping him in his miftake?

Mifs Hard. In the first place, I shall be seen, and that is no fmall advantage to a girl who brings her face to maket. Then I fhall perhaps make an acquaintance,

and that's no finall victory gained over one who never addreffes but the wildest of her fex. But any chief my aim is to take my gentleman off his guard, and, like an invifible champion of romance, examine the giant's force before I offer to combat.

Maid. But are you sure you act your part, and difguife your voice, fo that he may miftake that, as he has already mistaken your person?

Mifs Hard. Never fear me. I think I have got the true bar-cant. Did you honour call?Attend the Lion there.--Pipes and tobacco for the Angel.-The Lamb has been outrageous this half hour.

Maid. It will do, Madam. But he's here. [Exit Maid.

Enter MARLOW.

Mar. What a bawling in every part of the house. I have scarce a moment's repofe. If I go to the best room, there I find my hoft and his ftory. If I fly to the gallery, there we have my hoftefs with her curtefy down to the ground. I have at last got a moment to myself, and now for recollection. [Walks and muses.

Mifs Hard. Did you call, fir? Did your honour call? Mar. (Mufing) As for Mifs Hardcastle, fhe's too grave and fentimental for me.

Mifs Hard. Did your honour call?

[She fill places berfelf before him, he turning away. Mar. No child. (mufing) Befides from the glimpfe I had of her, I think the fquints.

Mifs Hard. I'm fure, fir, I heard the bell ring.

Mar. No, no. (mufing) I have pleafed my father, however, by coming down, and I'll to-morrow please myfelf by returning.

[Taking out bis tablets, and peruing.