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Mifs Hard. Perhaps the other gentleman called, fir? Mar. I tell you, no.

Miss Hard. I should be glad to know, fir. We have fuch a parcel of fervants.

Mar. No, no, I tell you.

Yes, child, I think I did call.

(Looks full in her face.) I wanted--I wanted

---I vow, child, you are vafily handsome.

Mifs Hard. Ola, you'll make one afhan'd.

Mer. Never faw a more fprightly malicious eye. Yes, yes, my dear, I did call.. Have you got any of your-a-what d'ye call it in the houfe?

Mifs Hard. No, fir, we have been out of that thefe ten days.

Mar. One may call in this houfe, I find, to very little purpofe. Suppofe 1 fhould call for a tafte, juft by way of trial, of the nectar of your lips; perhaps I might be difappointed in that too.

Mifs Hard. Nectar! nectar! That's a liquor there's no call for in thefe parts. French, I suppose. We keep no French wines here, fir.

Mar. Of true English growth, I affare you.

Mifs Hard. Then it's odd I fhould not know it. We brew all sorts of wines in this house, and I have lived here thefe eighteen years.

Mar Eighteen years! Why one would think, child, you kept the bar before you were born. How old are you? Mifs Hard. O! fir, I must not tell my age. They fay women and mufic fhould never be dated.

Mar. To guess at this distance you can't be much above forty (approaching). Yet nearer I don't think fo much (approaching). By coming clofe to fome women hey look younger ftill; but when we come very clofe indeed (attempting to kifs her.)

Mifs Hard. Pray, fir, keep your diftance. One would think you wanted to know one's age as they do horses, by mark of mouth.

Mar. I proteft, child, you ufe me extremely ill. If you keep me at this diftance, how is it poffible you and I can be ever acquainted?

Mifs Hard. And who wants to be acquainted with you? I want no fuch acquaintance, not I. I'm fure you did not treat Mifs Hardcastle that was here a while ago in this obftropolous manner. I'll warrant me, before her you look'd dafh'd, and kept bowing to the ground, and talk'd, for all the world, as if you was before a justice of peace.

Mar. (Afide) Egad! She has hit it, fure enough. (To ber) In awe of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere, aukward, fquinting thing, no, no. I find you don't know me. I laugh'd, and rallied her a little; but I was unwilling to be too fevere. No, I could not be too fevere, curse me ? Mifs Hard. O! then, fir, you are a favourite, I find, among the ladies?

Mar. Yes, my dear, a great favourite. And yet, hang me, I don't see what they find in me to follow. At the ladies club in town, I'm called their agreeable Rattle. Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one I'm known by. My name is Solomons. Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your fervice. (Offering to falute her.)

Mifs Hard. Hold, fir; you are introducing me to your club, not to yourself. And you're fo great a favourite there, you fay?

.

Mar. Yes, my dear. There's Mrs. Mantrap, lady Betty Blackleg, the countess of Sligo, Mrs. Langhorns, old Mi ́s Biddy Buckskin, and your humble servant, keep up the spirit of the place.

Mifs Hard. Then it's a very merry place, I fuppofe? Mar. Yes, as merry as cards, fupper, wine, and old women can make us.

Mifs Hard. And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha ha! Mar. (Afide) Egad! I don't quite like this chit. She looks knowing, methinks. You laugh, child!

Mifs Hard. I can't but laugh to think what time they all have for minding their work or their family.

Mar. (Afide) All's well; fhe don't laugh at me. (To her) Do you ever work, child?

Mifs Hard. Ay, fure. There's not a fcreen or a quilt in the whole houfe but what can bear witness to that. Mar. Odfo! Then you muft fhew me your embroidery. I embroider and draw patterns my felf a little. If you want a judge of your work you must apply to me.

[Seizing her hands Mifs Hard. Ay, but the colours don't look well by candle-light. You shall fee all in the morning.

Struggling. Mar. And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires. beyond the power of refiftance.- Pihaw the father here! My old luck: I never nick'd feven that I did not throw ames ace three times following [Exit Marlow.

Enter HARDCASTLE, who flands in furprife.

Hard. So, madam. So I find this is your modeft lover. This is your humble admirer that kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and only ador'd at humble distance. Kate, Kate, art thou not asham'd to deceive your father fo?

Mifs Hard. Never trust me, dear papa, but he's ftill the modeft man I first took hini for, you'll be convinced of it as well as I.

Hard. By the hand of my body I believe his impudence is infectious! Did'nt I fee him feize your hand? Didn't I fee him hawl you about like a milk-maid? And now you talk of his refpect and his modefty, forfooth!

Mifs Hard. But if I fhortly convince you of his modefty, that he has only the faults that will pafs off with time, and the virtues that will improve with age, I hope you'll forgive him.

Hard. The girl would actually make one run mad! I tell you I'll not be convinced. I am convinced. He has fcarcely been three hours in the house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may like his impudence, and call it modefty: But my fon-inlaw, madam, must have very different qualifications.

Mifs Hard. Sir, I ask but this night to convince you. Hard. You fhall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of turning him out this very hour.

Mifs Hard. Give me that hour then, and I hope to fatisfy you.

Hard. Well, an hour let it be then. But I'll have no trifling with your father. All fair and open, do you

mind me.

Mifs Hard. I hope, fir, you have ever found that I confidered your commands as my pride; for your kindness is fuch, that my duty as yet has been inclination.

!

• АСТ THE

FOURTH.

Enter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.

Haftings.

You furprife me! Sir Charles Marlow expected

here this night? Where have you had your informa tion?

Mifs Nev. You may depend upon it. I juft faw his letter to Mr. Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends fetting out a few hours after his fon.

Haft. Then, my Conftance, all must be completed before he arrives. He knows me; and fhould he find me here, would difcover my name, and perhaps my defigns, to the rest of the family.

Mifs Nev. The jewels, I hope, are fafe.

Haft. Yes, yes. I have fent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our baggage. In the mean time, I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement. I have had the 'fquire's promife of a fresh pair of horfes; and if I fhould not fee him again, will write him further directions. [Exit.

Mifs Nev. Well fuccefs attend you. In the mean time, I'll go amufe my aunt with the old pretence of a violent paffion for my coufin.

Enter MARLOW, followed by a fervant.

[Exit,

Mar. I wonder what Haftings could mean by fending me fo valuable a thing as a cafket to keep for him, when he knows the only place I have is the feet of a post

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